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

Dozens of pages of documents describe agents secretly infiltrating meetings, monitoring activist chat groups and using license plate numbers to compile names of people who attended gatherings. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

In 1963, the Corvette’s father, Zora Arkus-Duntov, began working secretly on a race car that would be able to best the famed Shelby Cobra. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026

The tool could help address misuse like, for example, the former Milwaukee police officer who court documents show secretly used Flock to search the location of his romantic partner 124 times. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

An Army gynecologist charged with secretly video recording patients during exams pleaded not guilty Wednesday. — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026

Like the book, Bret is living a double life, dating a girl in public while secretly sleeping with a boy. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

The president secretly flying in a second plane has been publicized before, such as during former President Bill Clinton’s March 2000 trip to Islamabad, Pakistan. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026

In 2000, President Bill Clinton secretly switched to an unmarked plane for a trip to Pakistan. — Philip Wang, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

The new photos show the catering truck that was reported to have hidden the president to secretly transfer him to another plane. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026