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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of private
In 2023, a 28-year-old killed three children and three adults at The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee.
—
Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Some of you are dabbling in secret love affairs or private get-togethers, which might be exciting.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
While much of Aaron's life is public, including his years-long estrangement from his family, he's been keeping his wife private, including her identity.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Its members include defense attorneys and prosecutors, public interest lawyers and private practitioners, judges, and law firm attorneys.
—Muhammad U. Faridi, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private
Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Some of you are dabbling in secret love affairs or private get-togethers, which might be exciting.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
While much of Aaron's life is public, including his years-long estrangement from his family, he's been keeping his wife private, including her identity.
—Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Its members include defense attorneys and prosecutors, public interest lawyers and private practitioners, judges, and law firm attorneys.
—Muhammad U. Faridi, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private
Adjective
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Never enter sensitive, confidential or proprietary company information into public AI tools like ChatGPT.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has been building a secret stock position with special confidential treatment for two quarters in a row.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Journaling, secret crushes and clandestine affairs take precedence.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
25 Aug. 2025
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But local leaders had no doubt about the perpetrators, even though the state’s campaign had previously been carried out through public exhortations and directives, not clandestine repaintings.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The relative offered a coda to the shipwreck discovery story with a personal, and emotional, one of his own.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Even with little personal connection to sorority culture, Becky and Amy put their best foot forward to support their kids.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The general idea is that Swift drops hints alluding to secret relationships and desires through song lyrics and social media posts.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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To top it off, a secret speakeasy-style bar allows for intimate imbibing.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The criminal complaint says the charges stem from an undercover investigation by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, which culminated with a two-pound drug deal at the San Pablo Lytton Casino in July.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
26 Aug. 2025
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Historically, officers have almost always concealed their faces only while performing undercover work to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, law enforcement experts have told CNN.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Also on the completely off-grid estate is an underground tunnel that leads from the main house to a one-bedroom, one-bath guest suite atop a three-car garage that’s also outfitted with a greenhouse and a 45-kilowatt generator.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
28 Aug. 2025
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In addition to the SIM card alert four hours earlier, Hamas operatives were apparently preparing an underground tunnel complex that top field commanders descended into in the event of an emergency.—
Yaakov Katz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That said, rigid models and subjective weighting can limit adaptability in dynamic projects.—
Ohm Kundurthy,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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Some reminders: First, yes, this is a subjective exercise.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Initially, Moscow opted to provide covert assistance to the rebels in the form of advice and financial support, but its involvement grew steadily more militarized.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims Otter's covert recording violates state and federal privacy and wiretap laws.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
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