covert

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