hole-and-corner

adjective

ˈhōl-ən(d)-ˈkȯr-nər How to pronounce hole-and-corner (audio)
Definition of hole-and-cornernext
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a hole-and-corner antiterrorist operation whose very existence has been steadfastly denied by the government

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hole-and-corner
  1. clandestine
  2. underground
  3. covert
  4. undercover
  5. private
Adjective
  • In the past, drug traffickers approached the community seeking to build a clandestine airstrip inside their territory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • The film’s trailer, guided by the unofficial Mayor of the Marquis, Billy Bob Thornton, hints at the tales of wild nights, impromptu poolside concerts, and a clandestine stairway excursion.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • The $20 million capital improvement construction project included full demolition and reconstruction of the base’s aging tarmac and new underground fire-retardant reloading bays.
    — Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
  • Experts say the Teesta River basin, where the hydropower project is being built, lies in a seismically active region marked by young, fragile rock formations riddled with fractures and underground pockets that can trap ancient gases.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of underground
Adjective
  • Undersea infrastructure like optical fiber internet cables, pipelines, sensor arrays are vulnerable to covert UUV operations.
    — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
  • Pickaxe Mountain is near Iran’s Natanz Nuclear Complex, where an explosion in July 2020, possibly caused by a covert Israeli attack, caused serious damage to the country’s nuclear program.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 July 2026
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • In May of this year, undercover detectives observed Velasquez eating dinner with two plastic forks at a restaurant, according to the affidavit.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • In August 2024, Perez, then 29, communicated with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl, according to the press release.
    — Niya Doyle, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • The city says state law prevents it from setting wages for private companies such as airlines, and a new provision in the state budget further restricts what local officials can do for contract workers.
    — DJ Simmons July 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026
  • And the private grading plan associated with the project, which provided engineering details for the development of private property, was completely voided, citing issues with code compliance.
    — Zuri Primos July 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Definition of private
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.

Browse Nearby Words

hole
hole-and-corner
holed
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Cite this Entry

“Hole-and-corner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hole-and-corner. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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