as in secretly
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others
she confided to me privately that she was considering divorce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 privately
The play-calling coach and young quarterback met privately for an hour each week.
—
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
In professional settings, this may look like a team publicly agreeing to a course of action, but privately listing all of the roadblocks in the way of success.
—Lindsay Phillips, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla are spending Accession Day privately at Balmoral, PEOPLE understands.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The two stepped away from the counter to speak privately.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
Once the discussion concluded, Zuckerberg leaned over to Trump to privately admit the president had caught him off guard.
—PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
Trump has done less of this in his second term, preferring to twist arms and lobby lawmakers privately this time.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
Other than speaking to Sanders, Platner has not discussed the race with other congressional Democrats — some of whom privately question whether Mills, who would be the oldest freshman senator if elected, is the solution to their routine failure to beat Collins.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Today, it is privately owned by the Silver City Property Owners, the Idaho Heritage Trust said.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2025
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
In professional settings, this may look like a team publicly agreeing to a course of action, but privately listing all of the roadblocks in the way of success.
—Lindsay Phillips, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla are spending Accession Day privately at Balmoral, PEOPLE understands.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The two stepped away from the counter to speak privately.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
Once the discussion concluded, Zuckerberg leaned over to Trump to privately admit the president had caught him off guard.
—PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
Trump has done less of this in his second term, preferring to twist arms and lobby lawmakers privately this time.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
Other than speaking to Sanders, Platner has not discussed the race with other congressional Democrats — some of whom privately question whether Mills, who would be the oldest freshman senator if elected, is the solution to their routine failure to beat Collins.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Today, it is privately owned by the Silver City Property Owners, the Idaho Heritage Trust said.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for privately
Adverb
-
For the next two decades, the unlikely duo secretly sleuthed together on an array of front-page crimes happening in real time — missing Yale student Annie Le; newlywed George Smith murdered on a cruise ship; missing 5-year-old Noah Thomas, who disappeared in a rural town in Appalachian Virginia.—
Natasha Stoynoff,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Over the course of the season, Dexter reunites with Harrison in New York City and inadvertently finds his way into the company of other infamous serial killers secretly assembled for meetings at the estate of billionaire philanthropist Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage).—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
So these cases are almost always settled confidentially.—
Stayton Bonner,
Robb Report,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Tips can be made to the Arson Watch Reward Program confidentially and anonymously, fire officials said.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Privately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/privately. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share