Synonyms of secretly

secretly

adverb

as in privately

in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others

the girl secretly told her friends about the birthday party so it would be a surprise to the birthday girl

Synonyms & Similar Words

• privately
• confidentially
• in private
• intimately
• backstage
• in camera
• covertly
• clandestinely
• inwardly
• à deux
• tête-à-tête
• surreptitiously
• furtively
• secretively
• stealthily
• sneakily
• conspiratorially
• collusively
• underhandedly
• sotto voce
• undercover
• underground
• offstage
• offscreen
• underhanded
• underhand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• publicly
• openly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of secretly

The police suspect Juggut Singh, a Sikh peasant with a criminal record who, on the night of the killing, was secretly meeting Nooran, the daughter of a Muslim priest and weaver. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026

After Meta’s smart glasses helped normalize secretly recording people, Instagram is taking a major step to discourage such behavior. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026

Somersault Wonder Bernad Sia and estranged husband Bernad secretly welcomed their first child and her third son, Somersault Wonder, on March 27, 2024. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 23 July 2026

OpenAI model secretly broke out of secure environment and hacked a competitor. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 22 July 2026

Binaggia, facing escalating threats from a ringleader who carried a handgun and owned a German shepherd with a shock collar, began secretly recording his meetings in late 2015. — Jay Weaver july 21, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

Do the children secretly yearn for dazzling time signature changes, for theatrical concept albums, for Moog racks? — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026

Quince has secretly become our favorite source for bags that feel far more luxurious than their price tags. — Kaitlin Marks, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026

Nick and Charlie run into one another at a gay nightclub during Pride — a meeting Tara Jones (Corinna Brown) secretly orchestrated without their knowledge. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026