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clandestine

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of clandestine

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 of clandestine

backstairs, behind-the-scenes, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, private, privy, secret, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealth, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded
Words Related to clandestine

off-the-record

classified, confidential, restricted, top secret, undisclosed

concealed, hidden, secreted, subterranean
Near Antonyms of clandestine

acknowledged, avowed

aboveboard, straightforward, unconcealed, undisguised

unclassified, unrestricted

clear, evident, manifest, obvious, patent, plain
Antonyms of clandestine

open, overt, public

Synonym Discussion of clandestine

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

Learn More about clandestine

  1. See words that rhyme with clandestine Dictionary: Definition of clandestine Spanish Central: Translation of clandestine Nglish: Translation of clandestine for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of clandestine for Arabic speakers

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