1
: a cautious, unobtrusive, and secretive way of moving or proceeding intended to avoid detection
Makos, among the fastest of sharks, chase down their prey. Slower species … rely on stealth and explosive power.—
Steve Kemper
Steve KemperThe intricate labor … required courage and stealth.—Sue M. Halpern
Sue M. HalpernAs we walked closer we began treading with exaggerated stealth until we came very close …—Dorothy Dimsdale
Dorothy DimsdaleA thief does his work in secret and by stealth.—Harry Shaw
Harry Shaw2
: an aircraft-design characteristic consisting of oblique angular construction and avoidance of vertical surfaces that is intended to produce a very weak radar return
—usually used before another noun
a stealth bomber/fighter
stealth aircraft
stealth technology
3
a
archaic
: theft
b
obsolete
: something stolen
1
: intended not to attract attention : stealthy
a stealth campaign
… the company has operated in stealth mode until now.—Steve Silberman
Steve SilbermanHer team seemed to communicate with a secret stealth language …—E. L. Konigsburg
see also stealth entry 1 sense 2
E. L. Konigsburg2
medical
: involving or caused by an asymptomatic or presymptomatic infectious individual : silent sense 6b
stealth spread/transmission of a contagious disease
Synonyms
Examples of stealth in a Sentence
Noun
The fox uses stealth and cunning to hunt its prey.
Adjective
the SWAT team carried out a stealth raid on the house, which was believed to be harboring a terrorist cell
Recent Examples on the WebSébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 3 Sep. 2023
Now Flannery is scrambling to move from stealth to charm mode.
—Shawn Hubler, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2023
Image: Archer Archer, based in Santa Clara, California, came out of stealth in spring 2020 after having poached key talent from Wisk and Airbus’ Vahana project.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 10 Aug. 2023
The first aircraft designed specifically with stealth as a priority was Have Blue.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023
Add all of those together, and the wealth is not that stealth.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 July 2023
Later stealth jets, including the F-22 Raptor fighter, F-35 Lightning II strike fighter, and B-21 Raider strategic bomber concentrated on making stealth more affordable and easier to maintain.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023
The jet is highly maneuverable and a favorite at air shows, but lacks stealth to keep it off enemy radar.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 31 May 2023
Dazana Liadon Played by: Julian Sorapuru Wood Elf Rogue Rogues focus on stealth and deception capable of sneaky combat and nimble tricks.
—BostonGlobe.com, 29 Mar. 2023
Leena Kim, Town & Country, 5 Sep. 2023
More ambitiously, a stealth transport would be useful for inserting airborne and special operations forces behind enemy lines.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 24 Aug. 2023
There are also several snippets in the film that frame some sides of the game’s gameplay, on the possibilities of stealth and acrobatic actions above the buildings of the Middle Eastern city.
—Damiano D’agostino, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Aug. 2023
Another important – and odd-shaped – aircraft first tested at Area 51 was the stealth fighter known as the F-117.
—Christopher Nichols, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2023
The dispatch of the troop-and-aircraft-carrying USS Bataan to the Gulf, alongside stealth F-35 fighters and other warplanes, comes as America wants to focus on China and Russia.
—Jon Gambrell, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Aug. 2023
Zdarsky’s little homemade trike had no such capabilities; his only defense was stealth.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023
Diana Flores is known for her quick feet and stealth passes as the quarterback for the Mexico Women’s National Flag Football Team.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 20 June 2023
Each Oura Ring is offered in a variety of popular shades that also impact its price; these finishes are gold, silver, black and stealth (matte black) and rose gold.
—Olivia Lipski, Good Housekeeping, 16 June 2023
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Noun
The force will expand with the addition of 70 4.5-generation Gripen-E fighters with improved stealth, greater range, advanced AESA radar/jammers, and uprated F414 turbofan engines permitting supersonic cruising.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 3 Sep. 2023
Now Flannery is scrambling to move from stealth to charm mode.
—Shawn Hubler, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2023
Image: Archer Archer, based in Santa Clara, California, came out of stealth in spring 2020 after having poached key talent from Wisk and Airbus’ Vahana project.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 10 Aug. 2023
The first aircraft designed specifically with stealth as a priority was Have Blue.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023
Add all of those together, and the wealth is not that stealth.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 July 2023
Later stealth jets, including the F-22 Raptor fighter, F-35 Lightning II strike fighter, and B-21 Raider strategic bomber concentrated on making stealth more affordable and easier to maintain.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023
The jet is highly maneuverable and a favorite at air shows, but lacks stealth to keep it off enemy radar.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 31 May 2023
Dazana Liadon Played by: Julian Sorapuru Wood Elf Rogue Rogues focus on stealth and deception capable of sneaky combat and nimble tricks.
—BostonGlobe.com, 29 Mar. 2023
Adjective
The brand was founded on this principle more than 40 years ago (and decades before stealth wealth even entered the modern lexicon).
—Leena Kim, Town & Country, 5 Sep. 2023
More ambitiously, a stealth transport would be useful for inserting airborne and special operations forces behind enemy lines.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 24 Aug. 2023
There are also several snippets in the film that frame some sides of the game’s gameplay, on the possibilities of stealth and acrobatic actions above the buildings of the Middle Eastern city.
—Damiano D’agostino, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Aug. 2023
Another important – and odd-shaped – aircraft first tested at Area 51 was the stealth fighter known as the F-117.
—Christopher Nichols, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2023
The dispatch of the troop-and-aircraft-carrying USS Bataan to the Gulf, alongside stealth F-35 fighters and other warplanes, comes as America wants to focus on China and Russia.
—Jon Gambrell, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Aug. 2023
Zdarsky’s little homemade trike had no such capabilities; his only defense was stealth.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023
Diana Flores is known for her quick feet and stealth passes as the quarterback for the Mexico Women’s National Flag Football Team.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 20 June 2023
Each Oura Ring is offered in a variety of popular shades that also impact its price; these finishes are gold, silver, black and stealth (matte black) and rose gold.
—Olivia Lipski, Good Housekeeping, 16 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stealth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing stealth
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Cite this Entry
“Stealth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stealth. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
stealth
1 of 2 noun1
: sly or secret action
2
: a design style intended to make an aircraft difficult to detect by radar
stealth
2 of 2 adjective
: intended not to attract attention : stealthy sense 2
a stealth campaign
More from Merriam-Webster on stealth
Nglish: Translation of stealth for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of stealth for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stealth
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