open secret

noun

Synonyms of open secretnext
: a supposedly secret but generally known matter

Examples of open secret in a Sentence

It's an open secret that he's been cheating on his wife.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
How online sleuths impact reality TV The open secret of reality TV is that the producers control the narrative. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 1 June 2026 Their romance was an open secret, and more than a little scandalous. Danielle Parker, CBS News, 18 May 2026 Advertisement The futility of negotiations is now an open secret. Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 May 2026 There is an open secret in Hollywood that no collective bargaining agreement addresses, no trade publication investigates with any seriousness, and no executive at a studio or a talent agency is particularly motivated to fix. George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for open secret

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of open secret was in 1828

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Cite this Entry

“Open secret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20secret. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

open secret

noun
: something supposed to be a secret but in fact generally known

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