Synonyms of clandestine

clandestine

adjective

klan-ˈde-stən 

as in undercover

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others

I took a clandestine peek at the price tag on the diamond necklace

Synonyms & Similar Words

• undercover
• covert
• underground
• sneak
• private
• surreptitious
• sneaking
• stealth
• secret
• furtive
• stealthy
• sneaky
• hole-and-corner
• underhanded
• behind-the-scenes
• underhand
• privy
• undisclosed
• backstairs
• hush-hush
• off-the-books
• confidential
• closed-door
• hugger-mugger
• hidden
• off-the-record
• classified
• restricted
• subterranean
• secreted
• concealed
• back-channel
• top secret
• unexposed
• unadvertised

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• public
• overt
• open
• avowed
• acknowledged
• straightforward
• unclassified
• unrestricted
• obvious
• unconcealed
• evident
• undisguised
• clear
• plain
• manifest
• aboveboard
• patent

Synonym Chooser

How is the word clandestine distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of clandestine are covert, furtive, secret, stealthy, surreptitious, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

When is it sensible to use covert instead of clandestine?

The words covert and clandestine can be used in similar contexts, but covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When might furtive be a better fit than clandestine?

While the synonyms furtive and clandestine are close in meaning, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

Where would secret be a reasonable alternative to clandestine?

In some situations, the words secret and clandestine are roughly equivalent. However, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When can stealthy be used instead of clandestine?

Although the words stealthy and clandestine have much in common, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

When is surreptitious a more appropriate choice than clandestine?

The meanings of surreptitious and clandestine largely overlap; however, 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

When could underhanded be used to replace clandestine?

While in some cases nearly identical to clandestine, underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of clandestine

The clandestine devices blend in visually with card readers and are used by criminals to capture financial data that may be used fraudulently. —Max Levy, Denver Post, 7 June 2025

Why would a man so disciplined in deception and clandestine operations, a future United States president, divulge such a secret and then say nothing else? —Bill Swank, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025

Syria under Assad is believed to have operated an extensive clandestine nuclear program, which included an undeclared nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province. —Arkansas Online, 5 June 2025

The only way to pre-empt detection by these IAEA watchdogs would be for Ukraine to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and expel the atomic inspectors, but those moves would amount to trumpeting Kyiv’s clandestine quest to develop a nuclear warhead. —Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025

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