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
• underground
• undercover
• offstage
• offscreen
• underhanded
• underhand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• publicly
• openly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of secretly

This prompted fans to wonder whether the Magic Mike star was secretly the face behind the page. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2026

The Obama administration ordered warrantless drone strikes and secretly seized reporters’ phone records. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026

Olivier had finished shooting Wuthering Heights and was in New York, so Selznick arranged for the couple to meet secretly in Kansas City to revive Leigh’s spirit. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

None of this means obstructing staff, entering restricted areas, or secretly recording conversations. — Matthew Kayser, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

Over the next decade, investigators used cellphone records, surveillance video, financial records and secretly recorded conversations to build the case. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

The tapes showcased by the doc were secretly recorded between Diana and her friend, James Colthurst, in 1991. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

And certain lucky people had their shoulders secretly tapped by host Alan Cumming. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026

Lady Gaga and her fiancé, Michael Polansky, secretly welcomed their first child, Rose Bean Polansky, in June 2026. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 18 Sep. 2026