stealthy

adjective \ ˈstel-thē \

Definition of stealthy

stealthier; stealthiest

1 :slow, deliberate, and secret in action or character

2 a :intended to escape observation :furtive

b :designed to produce a very weak radar return

a stealthy airplane

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stealthily

play \-thə-lē\ adverb

—

stealthiness

play \-thē-nəs\ noun

See stealthy defined for English-language learners

See stealthy defined for kids

Examples of stealthy in a Sentence

the stealthy movements of the crocodile
cats are among the stealthiest of stalkers

Recent Examples of stealthy from the Web

To keep the attack stealthy, the chip can also turn off power to the display panel while the uninitiated actions are performed.

— dan goodin, Ars Technica, "Secret chips in replacement parts can completely hijack your phone’s security," 18 Aug. 2017
The stealthy F-35 Lightning II, with a top speed around Mach 1.6, is simply beyond North Korea's ability to oppose.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "The F-35 Is on Its Way to Stare Down North Korea," 17 Aug. 2017
Fitted with next-generation sensor systems and designed to be stealthy, the F-35 is versatile but also somewhat delicate.

— paul barrett, Bloomberg.com, "The F-35 Costs Even More When You Fly It," 11 July 2017
Dewayne Dedmon, Spurs (UFA) A stealthy part of the framework behind the best defense in the league last season, Dedmon, a seven-footer in the prime of his career, can change the look of the defensive interior.

— rob mahoney, SI.com, "2017 NBA Free Agency: Best Bargains On The Market," 6 July 2017
Figuring out this puzzle could be the secret to helping humans build stealthier autonomous submarines or other underwater vehicles, as WIRED magazine reported in 2015.

— kalila morsink, Smithsonian, "How Do Sea Lions Swim, Glide and Sometimes Even Nab Humans?," 30 June 2017
Meyers also pointed out that Trump fell victim to the stealthiest troll in politics: President Obama.

— megan friedman, Esquire, "Seth Meyers Breaks Down the 'Cartoonishly Evil' Trumpcare Bill," 27 June 2017
Dewayne Dedmon A stealthy part of the framework behind best defense in the league last season.

— rob mahoney, SI.com, "NBA Free Agency 2017: Top 50 Players Available," 26 June 2017
Lacking the votes to stop it, Democrats are criticizing the still-evolving bill as a stealthy measure that GOP leaders want to rush through the chamber before anyone knows what's really in it.

— alan fram, chicagotribune.com, "McConnell says GOP getting ready for Senate health care vote," 20 June 2017

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

First Known Use of stealthy

1565

stealthy Synonyms

Synonyms

furtive, shady, shifty, slippery, sly, sneaking, sneaky

Antonyms

open, overt, public

Near Antonyms

aboveboard, forthright, plainspoken, straightforward; candid, direct, foursquare, frank, open, plain; honest, trustworthy, truthful

Synonym Discussion of stealthy

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

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

STEALTHY Defined for English Language Learners

stealthy

adjective

Definition of stealthy for English Language Learners

: quiet and secret in order to avoid being noticed

STEALTHY Defined for Kids

stealthy

adjective \ ˈstel-thē \

Definition of stealthy for Students

stealthier; stealthiest

:done in a sly or secret manner

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stealthily

\-thə-lē\ adverb

… he moved stealthily and silently, staying in the shadows …
—Lois Lowry, The Giver

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First Known Use of stealthy

stealthy Synonyms

Synonyms

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Related Words

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STEALTHY Defined for English Language Learners

stealthy

Definition of stealthy for English Language Learners

STEALTHY Defined for Kids

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stealthily

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