1
2

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of furtive Tom Cruise may shoot furtive glances at co-stars, punch of co-stars in the face and/or betray co-stars for the good of mankind. Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 Mounting fear within the Jewish and Conservative communities of New York is that Mamdani’s furtive stance of justice for Palestine and divestment from Israel is stoking the flame of more virulent Anti-Semitism to come. Alexandra Bregman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 The clip, which shows the dog giving its owner furtive side-eye while cautiously walking by captured the breed's endearing blend of innocence and mischief. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 Over the past decade, furtive commercial entities around the world have industrialized the production, sale and dissemination of bogus scholarly research, undermining the literature that everyone from doctors to engineers rely on to make decisions about human lives. Guillaume Cabanac, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for furtive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furtive
Adjective
  • This shady ramble follows a beautiful stream to a gushing spring.
    Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • With the story transposed to a tough sprawling prison in Marseille, one of France’s most multicultural cities, the protagonist is now a young African immigrant, serving time for drug smuggling, who is offered the protection of a powerful and shady French-Algerian businessman.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Joint operations by the Civil Police and the Health Surveillance Agency have led to the closure of four clandestine factories and the arrest of 41 people, according to a statement by the government of São Paulo.
    Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Instead of being purely driven by a life-changing amount of money, Carrie has feelings for Richard, having carried on a clandestine affair with him before their murder plot.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • At school, teachers hid their identities and students made sly side comments.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Presenting Linda with two open wounds—one in the ceiling, and one in her child’s flesh—the film suggests, with sly wit and bristling optimism, that the solutions to both problems might be one and the same.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Valkyrie aims to provide the US warfighters with a high-performance-to-cost, stealthy, highly capable collaborative aircraft.
    Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Though some book bans have been stalled or swatted down in the courts, stealthy removal campaigns continue.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Checkmate has done lots of covert ops spy nonsense in comics throughout the years, and notable works with Batman on occasion.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Checkmate, which is another element that will continue in future DCU projects, is a covert watchdog agency.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While consumers are used to companies tacking on sneaky fees, the newest generation of bill increases are coming from government taxation, generally local or state.
    Kevin Williams, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
  • But their sneaky Game 3 strategy was to let Aaron Nola start and twirl a couple of innings, then wave for Suárez in the third inning.
    Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Though the story that White had told the undercover officers didn’t suggest an intentional killing, he was charged with murder.
    Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Border czar Tom Homan received $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents.
    Kate Wolffe October 9, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Furtive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furtive. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on furtive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!