secret

secret

adjective

Definition of SECRET

1

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others <a secret operation to rescue captive soldiers behind enemy lines>

Synonyms backstairs, behind-the-scenes, clandestine, covert, furtive, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, private, privy, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealth, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded

Related Words back-channel, closed-door, off-the-books, off-the-record; classified, confidential, restricted, top secret, undisclosed; concealed, hidden, secreted, subterranean, unadvertised, unexposed

Near Antonyms acknowledged, avowed; aboveboard, straightforward, unconcealed, undisguised; unclassified, unrestricted; clear, evident, manifest, obvious, patent, plain

Antonyms open, overt, public

2

working on missions in which one's objectives, activities, or true identity are not publicly revealed <secret agents whose wartime exploits were known only by top government officials>

Synonyms undercover

Related Words covert, private, secretive, subterranean

Near Antonyms overt

3

screened or sequestered from view <a secret cave that is screened by trees>

Synonyms cloistered, covert, hidden, isolated, quiet, remote, retired, secret, sheltered

Related Words lone, lonely, lonesome, reclusive, solitary; private

Near Antonyms obvious, visible; exposed

4

not known or meant to be known by the general populace <proprietary information that the company does its best to keep secret>

Synonyms behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hushed, hush-hush, inside, intimate, nonpublic, privy, secret

Related Words classified, restricted, top secret; silent, unadvertised, unannounced, undisclosed, unmentioned, unsaid, untold; clandestine, closet, collusive, conspiratorial, covert; furtive, hugger-mugger, occult, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded; personal; closeted, concealed, hidden; repressed, silenced, stifled, suppressed; backstage, offscreen, offstage

Near Antonyms well-known; advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, enunciated, heralded, proclaimed, professed, promulgated, publicized, published, reported, spotlighted; general, popular, prevailing, vulgar; current, prevalent, rife, widespread; communal, shared

Antonyms common, open, public