Definition of COVERT

Choose the Right Synonym for covert

Adjective

secret, covert, stealthy, furtive, clandestine, surreptitious, underhanded mean done without attracting observation. secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive. met at a secret location covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared. covert intelligence operations stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing. the stealthy step of a burglar furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness. lovers exchanging furtive glances clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered. a clandestine meeting of conspirators surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority. the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons underhanded stresses fraud or deception. an underhanded trick

Examples of covert in a Sentence

Adjective

He has taken part in a number of covert military operations. spy agencies taking covert action

Noun

set up a covert from which to watch wildlife without being detected the rabbit rushed to the safety of the nearest covert

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

By the mid-1970s, the CIA and FBI were facing a growing public outcry after a series of journalistic exposés revealed highly controversial covert activities at home and abroad. — Sadie Gurman, WSJ, "Attorney General Nominee Barr Helped Navigate CIA Through Rocky Times With Congress," 12 Feb. 2019 The Russian Federation — an adversary of the United States — engaged in a covert intelligence effort to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. — Murray Waas, Vox, "Exclusive: Paul Manafort advised White House on how to attack and discredit investigation of President Trump," 14 Dec. 2018 In addition to these scenarios, abusive behaviors at work can be classified as either overt—direct acts of hostility in front of customers, in meetings, in group Slack channels—or covert, behind-the-scenes passive aggressiveness or undermining. — Jessica Wakeman, Glamour, "Men Who Scream at Work Aren't "Passionate." They're Abusive.," 4 Sep. 2018 After all, planning a wedding is probably just as covert and elaborate an operation as shooting a beloved HBO costume drama. — Katherine Cusumano, Glamour, "Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams Had a Very Specific Self-Care Ritual to Deal With Game of Thrones Stress," 8 Oct. 2018 The tactics become more complex, more covert, and harder to detect. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "“This is now the new normal”: An expert explains why cybersecurity risks aren’t going away," 26 Aug. 2018 Libby is a former Bush administration official who was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in March 2007 in the case of Valerie Plame, who was outed as a covert CIA agent. — George Petras, USA TODAY, "President Trump’s pardons and commutations," 10 July 2018 As the Syria conflict deepened and Obama drew criticism for his indecision, The Times reported that Brennan’s C.I.A. undertook a billion-dollar covert campaign to arm and train rebels fighting against the Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad. — Mattathias Schwartz, New York Times, "A Spymaster Steps Out of the Shadows," 27 June 2018 Fear of Sunni jihadists and Iranian reprisals—as well as the lack of congressional authorization for lethal covert action—has frustrated ambitions for a U.S. campaign to bleed the Shiite empire through low-cost guerrillas. — Reuel Marc Gerecht, WSJ, "Tehran Counts on a Divided West," 12 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The two-person rear bench seat coverts into a small double bed and a second double bed fits in the pop-top, allowing the Sixty to sleep four. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "This Westfalia camper van is giving us 1950s-diner vibes," 1 Oct. 2018 To keep these images and video covert, cheaters may have a special cloud service. — Kim Komando, Fox News, "8 clever ways that tech can reveal a cheating spouse," 15 Sep. 2018 Gates himself has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy and lying to the FBI and vowed to help Mueller's investigation into Russia's covert influencing of the election. — Josh Hafner, USA TODAY, "OnPolitics Today: VA chief David Shulkin is done. Next up for Trump? Amazon, maybe," 28 Mar. 2018 When spelling the word out doesn’t work, Pig Latin is another way to keep, say, a potential trip to the ark-pay or oo-zay covert. — Mark Peters, BostonGlobe.com, "Pig Latin is alive and ellway," 11 Mar. 2018 The new count includes covert as well as temporary units, defense officials said. — Helene Cooper, New York Times, "U.S. Says It Has 11,000 Troops in Afghanistan, More Than Formerly Disclosed," 30 Aug. 2017 Regardless, losing 2-1 to Trinidad/Tobago in a qualifier Tuesday – and thus being eliminated from the 2018 World Cup – ain’t gonna create more coverts to the church of futbol. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: More of the same from Dusty Baker; Goodell misplaces his spine," 11 Oct. 2017 Prosecutors said the provision hampered their covert, undercover and sting investigations. — Sam Roberts, New York Times, "Joseph M. McDade, 18-Term Pennsylvania Congressman, Dies at 85," 26 Sep. 2017 How British democracy was subverted through a covert, far-reaching plan of coordination enabled by a US billionaire. — Will Bunch, Philly.com, "The key to the Trump-Russia scandal? Follow the data," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'covert.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.