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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Dark, dim, and a little grungy, with its scuffed checkerboard floors, worn old couches, peeling walls, and chalkboard menus, La Factoria feels like a clandestine underground speakeasy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
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Filling out the role of Ilya is Jay Armstrong Johnson; Jimin Moon plays Shane; Ryann Redmond plays a wine-mom narrator who lives for their clandestine love.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Khatri approached the undercover officer who had just presented the store’s clerk with a fake $1,000 winning ticket, court records show.—
Jack Jankowski,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
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This image provided by the Justice Department and contained in the affidavit in support of a criminal complaint shows Victor Manuel Rocha during a meeting with a FBI undercover employee.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
8 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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Some solitary wasps build many nests together in a community, and some live in nests underground so hanging decoys wouldn’t make a difference.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
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Instead, Putin spends more time in underground bunkers micromanaging his war, paranoid about a coup or an assassination attempt by Ukrainian drones, sources told the Financial Times.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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Lothar Speer During his sentencing in 2024, federal prosecutors said the full damage caused by Rocha's decades-long covert relationship with Cuba may never be fully known.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
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Ukraine has also conducted long-range covert drone strikes launched from within Russian territory, including attacks on strategic airbases using drones concealed in trucks or civilian infrastructure, demonstrating the increasing reach of low-cost UAV systems into deep strategic targets.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Ibrahim’s injuries prevent him from working, so Hiba supports the household, often picking up private cleaning jobs from Facebook ads.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Located on a private reserve northeast of the park, Awasi Patagonia puts you an hour away from the Laguna Amarga entrance, and many guests spend their week doing day hikes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstairs. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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