secretive

1 of 2

adjective

se·​cre·​tive ˈsē-krə-tiv 

si-ˈkrē-

: disposed to secrecy : not open or outgoing in speech, activity, or purposes

secretively adverb

secretiveness noun

secretiveness

2 of 2

noun

se·​cre·​tive·​ness

-ivnə̇s, 

-ēv- also -əv-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being secretive

Synonyms of secretive

Adjective

• silent
• quiet
• close
• reticent
• uncommunicative
• closemouthed
• dark

Choose the Right Synonym for secretive

silent, taciturn, reticent, reserved, secretive mean showing restraint in speaking.

silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.

the strong, silent type

taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.

taciturn villagers

reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.

greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal.

the secretive research and development division

Examples of secretive in a Sentence

Adjective

He's very secretive about his work.

the intelligence agency remained secretive despite the media's demands for more openness in government

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

While Congress reauthorizes the legal framework that allows for the collection of the communications, a secretive court known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court authorizes the government to conduct the surveillance programs under certain parameters for up to a year. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 June 2026

Trump claimed the secretive shipments were why oil prices had fallen below $90 a barrel after surpassing $110 at the start of April. —Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

Trump claimed the secretive shipments were why oil prices had fallen below $90 a barrel, after surpassing $110 at the start of April. —ABC News, 10 June 2026

However, Holmes was secretive about how exactly these machines worked, and many grew skeptical over whether or not the biotech firm could actually deliver on their promise. —Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

back-formation from secretiveness, partial translation of French secrétivité

Noun

partial translation of French secrétivité, from secrétiv- (from secret, noun + -if -ive) + -ité -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

1835, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

secretive

adjective

se·​cre·​tive ˈsē-krət-iv 

si-ˈkrēt-

: having a tendency toward secrecy and concealment : not frank or open

secretively adverb

secretiveness noun