as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
an influential Washington lobbyist who has been involved in a number of backstairs deals to limit regulation of financial institutions
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Recent Examples of backstairs
And in North Carolina, a boyish trial lawyer with jury-pleasing charm (John Edwards) knocked off Lauch Faircloth, a GOP senator who played a backstairs role in getting Kenneth Starr appointed as independent counsel.
—
Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 6 June 2019
Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 6 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstairs
Adjective
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That similarly clandestine spot is tucked in the mail sorting room of Hotel Phillips downtown.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
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Nicknamed Zvezdny Gorodok, or Star City/Starry Town, this clandestine base of operations was built beside the Tsiolkovskaya railway station served by the Yaroslavl Railroad.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Comeaux also said undercover officers would focus on drug enforcement.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
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The Washington Nationals are in full damage control after an undercover journalist with the O’Keefe Media Group caught now former Director of Community Relations Sean Hudson claiming to be religiously discriminating against Catholic starting pitcher Trevor Williams.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Get Ready: Katy Perry Has Released a Sneak Peek of Her New Song And the internet has receipts.—
Mehera Bonner,
Marie Claire,
15 Mar. 2017
Adjective
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While the men managed to keep up their spirits, being underground for more than 10 days took an understandable physical toll.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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Crews also will be replacing underground utilities, and constructing curbs and gutters, between 16th Street and 24th Street in Fruitland, and between 3rd Avenue and 6th Avenue in Payette, the release said.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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That is why Armenia’s election has become the focal point of an increasingly aggressive Russian political interference and covert action campaign.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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So does her strategy of releasing information in covert drips, often not revealing facts until the reader has likely figured them out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Its 23 spacious rooms and suites, all with terraces or private gardens, have spectacular sea views and are nestled into a ridge overlooking a secluded cove near the medieval hilltop village of Ramatuelle.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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It is embedded within the city’s historic Jackson Park, a decision that was met with legal battles as an environmental group sued the City of Chicago for allowing a private project to be built on public land.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstairs. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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