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 Early today, the Pisces Moon may stir private doubts or behind-the-scenes frustration as Venus highlights work and wellness . — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026 Economists polled by FactSet expect the ADP report to show private-sector job additions of 80,000 in July. — Zev Fima,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026 Steimle says agencies and private companies across Europe, the United States and Japan are developing competing capture technologies and mission architectures. — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive private discussions. — Lisa Mascaro, Fortune, 2 Aug. 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
  • Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said the administration’s initiative to fight election fraud does not justify the collection of confidential voter information.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Crucially, privacy is a major concern, as AI chats are typically not confidential and can be accessed or used by developers.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of confidential
Adjective
  • Throughout the previous four years, Russia has, for example, sent drones and clandestine operatives to disrupt European defense production facilities, military bases, and transport infrastructure.
    — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
  • In the past, drug traffickers approached the community seeking to build a clandestine airstrip inside their territory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • The article emphasizes that leaders must prioritize organizational interventions, such as de-emphasizing long hours and offering clinical sleep support like CBT-I, rather than just personal solutions.
    — Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Engle then diverted the money to personal purchases, including a yacht, vehicles, jewelry, and other luxury items, authorities said.
    — Doug Myers, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of personal
Adjective
  • Burke then allegedly visited Lake Elsinore and paid one of her classmates $1,000 to slip her a secret phone.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • At the same time, Bret, who is gay and desperate to keep it secret, is immediately drawn to Robert.
    — Leo Lasdun, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of secret
Adjective
  • Wong haunts the stories of the Floridian smugglers, connected to many of the feuds and undercover operations.
    — Rory Doherty, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a dizzying amount of outlandish behavior going on, from chimps with a taste for cocaine, to a former drug dealer who is devoted to reptiles and on to those who engage in intense undercover sting operations.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • This strategy transforms loyalty from a simple currency to a source of distinctive, personalized experiences, making trips more memorable for members.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Every table got a personalized storytelling moment with each course.
    — Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of personalized
Adjective
  • These were voices—complaining, confiding, exasperated, distressed—that had not been heard before, as if the novel were a speaking tube cued to an underground rumble.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Eden Aurelius is a relatively recent arrival to New York’s underground club scene, but her slim discography so far shows remarkable focus.
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of underground
Adjective
  • The study evaluated ChatGPT-4's ability to create structured SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment and plan) medical notes from audio recordings of physician-patient encounters.
    — Pat Williams, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • This is our pick for best of the night, but that’s subjective.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 4 Aug. 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 8 Aug. 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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