Definitions

secretly

[see-krit-lee] / ˈsi krɪt li /

ADVERB

in hidden manner

Synonyms

STRONGEST

clandestinely covertly furtively personally privately quietly stealthily surreptitiously

WEAK

behind closed doors behind someone's back by stealth confidentially hush-hush in camera in confidence in holes and corners in secret in strict confidence insidiously intimately obscurely on the Q.T. on the quiet on the sly privily slyly sub-rosa under the table underhandedly unobserved

Antonyms

STRONGEST

publicly

WEAK

openly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Appeared in the March 7, 2026, print edition as 'Russia Secretly Shares Locations of U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Secretly recorded calls of Russian soldiers speaking from the front lines in Ukraine with loved ones back home offer a rare glimpse of the war through Russian eyes.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 25, 2023

She signed to an independent label, Secretly Canadian, with her ambitions only expanding.

From New York Times • Apr. 24, 2023

Secretly, I had been extra excited about this dance class.

From Salon • Feb. 17, 2023

Secretly, he was disappointed that the engineers of America had not yet stepped forward with some novel but feasible scheme to eclipse Eiffel’s achievement.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

secretly

Example Sentences

Related Words