as in secretly
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others
she confided to me privately that she was considering divorce
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Recent Examples of privately
The Politico founder and NOTUS editor-in-chief Tim Grieve have aggressively privately pursued many of the top remaining names at the Post, hoping to peel off a significant number of top journalists to help the publication become an immediate player in DC.
—
Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
But instead, court proceedings began with both sides speaking privately with the judge at sidebar, followed by a recess.
—Kristina Rex, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The move appeared to buy her some time, and in the week that followed, Trump privately and publicly praised her leadership of DHS.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Elliott was privately struggling with an injury that prevented him from performing to his best ability.
—Jacob Louraine, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
The Goncalveses’ forthcoming nonprofit has a mission of raising funds to support and empower crime victims, including by privately covering costs of advanced DNA work to prosecute their cases, Steve Goncalves, Kaylee’s father, told the Statesman.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, the good news this week in Chicago was the groundbreaking for the new Chicago Fire stadium, privately funded to the tune of some $750 million by the Chicago Fire’s owner and chairman, Joe Mansueto.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Educators privately acknowledge that seniors’ attendance is poor or nil for those days.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026
The president had privately expressed deep frustration over Noem's testimony during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, sources with direct knowledge of the conversations said.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Max Tani, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
But instead, court proceedings began with both sides speaking privately with the judge at sidebar, followed by a recess.
—Kristina Rex, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The move appeared to buy her some time, and in the week that followed, Trump privately and publicly praised her leadership of DHS.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Elliott was privately struggling with an injury that prevented him from performing to his best ability.
—Jacob Louraine, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
The Goncalveses’ forthcoming nonprofit has a mission of raising funds to support and empower crime victims, including by privately covering costs of advanced DNA work to prosecute their cases, Steve Goncalves, Kaylee’s father, told the Statesman.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, the good news this week in Chicago was the groundbreaking for the new Chicago Fire stadium, privately funded to the tune of some $750 million by the Chicago Fire’s owner and chairman, Joe Mansueto.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Educators privately acknowledge that seniors’ attendance is poor or nil for those days.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026
The president had privately expressed deep frustration over Noem's testimony during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, sources with direct knowledge of the conversations said.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for privately
Adverb
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National Public Radio recently reported that the DOE secretly drafted new rules slashing environmental and security requirements for next-generation experimental nuclear reactors.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
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Obama also secretly arranged for a plane to deliver $400 million in cash to Iran, which the country promptly used to fund terror activities throughout the region.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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The day after his passing, Netflix released an interview with Dane for its Famous Last Words series that was confidentially recorded in November 2025, with the understanding that it would be released only after his death.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
20 Feb. 2026
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Detainees have a constitutional right to speak confidentially with an attorney.—
Claudia Boyd-Barrett,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Privately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/privately. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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