Synonyms of furtive

furtive

adjective

ˈfər-tiv 

1

as in shady

given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions

a furtive guy who always seems to be up to something, and usually that something is no-good

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shady
• sly
• stealthy
• sneaky
• shifty
• clandestine
• slippery
• dark
• sneaking
• secretive
• cheating
• cunning
• crooked
• deceptive
• treacherous
• slick
• covert
• close
• wily
• artful
• crafty
• devious
• dishonest
• foxy
• guileful
• lying
• reticent
• duplicitous
• deceitful
• underhanded
• deceiving
• insidious
• underhand
• tricky
• closemouthed
• perfidious
• mendacious
• untrustworthy
• knavish
• serpentine
• untruthful
• dissembling
• trickish
• two-faced
• double-dealing
• defrauding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in clandestine

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

gave each other furtive glances as we watched our friend open the booby-trapped soda

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word furtive distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of furtive are clandestine, covert, secret, stealthy, surreptitious, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

When would clandestine be a good substitute for furtive?

In some situations, the words clandestine and furtive are roughly equivalent. However, 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 could covert be used to replace furtive?

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

covert intelligence operations

When is secret a more appropriate choice than furtive?

While in some cases nearly identical to furtive, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When can stealthy be used instead of furtive?

While the synonyms stealthy and furtive are close in meaning, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

In what contexts can surreptitious take the place of furtive?

Although the words surreptitious and furtive have much in common, 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 might underhanded be a better fit than furtive?

The words underhanded and furtive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of furtive

One of Austin’s best taquerias is moving from its furtive spot in a downtown alley to one of the most famous streets in the city. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026

At the cottage, our protagonists replace the furtive glances and locker-room tension from earlier episodes with quiet intimacy and words of affirmation. —Chris Dong, USA Today, 27 Dec. 2025

In a grimy gray wig and sober black suit that subtly but pointedly leaps a century forward from the play’s origins to recall the Founding Fathers, Matthew Broderick’s Tartuffe speaks like the grandpa next door and pads across the stage with furtive footsteps, a monster masquerading as a mouse. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025

Then there was a furtive crunch, crunch, crunch of footsteps. —Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025

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