in private

ADJECTIVE

off the record

Synonyms

WEAK

arcane backdoor classified hush-hush hushed inside not for publication not public on the Q.T. private privy secret unofficial

ADJECTIVE

secretive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

covert enigmatic reticent taciturn

WEAK

backstairs buttoned-up cagey clammed up close close-mouthed cryptic feline furtive hushed in chambers in privacy in the background in the dark on the Q.T. reserved silent tight-lipped undercover unforthcoming withdrawn zipped

Antonyms

STRONGEST

communicative

WEAK

forthright honest open

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.

The process is conducted in private, before the arbitrators take time to consider their verdict.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

I don’t think the problems in private credit are over.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Nevertheless, some have likened what is happening in private credit to a slow run on a bank.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Investment firms that manage business development companies which invest in private capital have struggled in 2026.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

I was ready to go home, eat something in private, and go to sleep.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green