Definitions

in secret

Part of Speech:

All (3) Adjective (1) Adverb (2)

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behind-the-scenes adj.
huggermugger adv.
secretly adv.

ADJECTIVE

behind-the-scenes

Synonyms

WEAK

backstage behind the curtain in a corner in the dark out of public view sub-rosa

ADVERB

huggermugger

Synonyms

WEAK

behind closed doors behind someone's back by stealth clandestinely confidentially covertly furtively hush-hush in camera in confidence in holes and corners in strict confidence insidiously intimately o obscurely on the Q.T.

ADVERB

secretly

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 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.

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in secret

The company discovered in July that rogue AI agents had schemed in secret to break out of the virtual sandbox created to contain them, infiltrating the open internet and hacking a private company.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan was the front-runner after last month's first informal vote, in which the council's 15 members, including the five with veto power, pass judgment in secret on the candidates.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

“The risk-taking can be happening in secret, and that gets into violating trust and financial infidelity,” Taylor warned.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

Several expressed concerns that they might not continue to attend in-person events if they were being recorded in secret.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

He grabbed several shells, counted them in secret; then closed his hand, so neither Maggie, Kate, nor Leah could see.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

in secret

Example Sentences

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