private

adjective

ˈprī-vət How to pronounce private (audio)
Definition of privatenext
1
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace that he is planning to retire is private information until he makes a public announcement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a private investigation of the organization's activities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person club lockers in which private property may be stored

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 private Nutanix comes at it from private inference and hybrid infrastructure. — Janakiram Msv, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026 Unlike traditional apartment complexes, every residence at Estia Roseville is a single-level home with its own private entrance. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026 Set high above the town with breathtaking sea views from all 27 suites and 13 private villas (which are individually staffed), La Réserve offers serenity and discretion—all while being just a few minutes' drive from Pampelonne Beach. — Karli Poliziani, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026 The book-length poem, set at a private party, explores the decadent lifestyles associated with the movie industry in California in the 1920s. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for private
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private
  1. confidential
  2. clandestine
  3. personal
  4. secret
  5. undercover
  6. personalized
  7. underground
  8. subjective
Adjective
  • Chicago police Chief Elmer Washburn had a confidential secretary, Percy English, who also wrote for the Tribune.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026
  • Apple alleges that Tan used confidential company information when recruiting candidates, including instructing them to bring Apple parts during the interview process.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of confidential
Adjective
  • That the actual, original Antifa formed in clandestine resistance to Nazi terror during the early 1930s appears lost amid the rhetorical vagaries of political propaganda.
    — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 10 July 2026
  • Russia and China are seeking the capability to disable and eventually destroy Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, an investigation found, as the allies deepen their clandestine military cooperation.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • The measure aims to prevent businesses from offering different prices for shoppers based on personal information that is collected using tracking technology or other surveillance electronic tools, unless the businesses follow certain rules.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
  • Two years later, personal usage had exploded, and the beliefs about impact hadn't moved at all.
    — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of personal
Adjective
  • But out of the shadows emerges a former soldier known only as Berry, who starts building a secret resistance network.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • Three to Seven Days ISTANBUL, TURKEY Hair Restoration Hair restoration has become one of the entertainment industry’s least-secret procedures.
    — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Definition of secret
Adjective
  • The complaint was the result of a months-long investigation in which undercover operators posed as prospective tenants and recorded phone calls with Greystar employees to test their compliance with the law.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • The Chicago Police Department also carries out undercover stings at small massage parlors after the city receives complaints of vice activity.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • The participants underwent a battery of physical exams, and then were put on personalized protocols, prescribed by doctors, before receiving their first pills and injections.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • Prince Michael and his sons, Prince James and Prince Liam, now sell souvenirs online, including stamps, hoodies, flags — even personalized Sealand email addresses.
    — Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 12 July 2026
Definition of personalized
Adjective
  • Earlier this month a pastor who founded one of China’s most prominent underground churches was released from prison and reunited with his family in the United States after being detained in a crackdown in China last year.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Over several decades, Tehran has developed a network of fortified bases, underground storage complexes, mobile launch systems, and layered defenses intended to make its missile force difficult to locate and destroy.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026
Definition of underground
Adjective
  • By calling a game early for excessive precipitation (or making players continue to trudge through poor conditions), an umpire’s subjective view of weather conditions directly influences MLB records.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026
  • Other cities, including New York City and Boston, also administer gun-licensing systems with subjective moral-character or suitability standards.
    — George A. Mocsary, The Conversation, 7 July 2026
Definition of subjective

Phrases Containing private

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privacy
private
private detective
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Cite this Entry

“Private.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on private

Nglish: Translation of private for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about private

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