secret 1 of 2

noun

Definition of secretnext
1
as in confidence
information shared only with another or with a select few you didn't really expect him to keep a secret from his wife, did you?

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2
as in mystery
something hard to understand or explain the secrets of the Egyptian pyramids include the construction methods used to lift the huge blocks of stone in place

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3
as in key
something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal the secret to advancement in this company is hard work and dedication

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secret

2 of 2

adjective

ˈsē-krət How to pronounce secret (audio)
1
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a secret operation to rescue captive soldiers behind enemy lines

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2
as in undercover
working on missions in which one's objectives, activities, or true identity are not publicly revealed secret agents whose wartime exploits were known only by top government officials

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3
as in secluded
screened or sequestered from view a secret cave that is screened by trees

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4
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace proprietary information that the company does its best to keep secret

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word secret distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of secret are clandestine, covert, furtive, stealthy, surreptitious, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When would clandestine be a good substitute for secret?

While the synonyms clandestine and secret are close in meaning, clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

In what contexts can covert take the place of secret?

In some situations, the words covert and secret are roughly equivalent. However, covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When is furtive a more appropriate choice than secret?

The synonyms furtive and secret are sometimes interchangeable, but furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

When is it sensible to use stealthy instead of secret?

The words stealthy and secret can be used in similar contexts, but stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

Where would surreptitious be a reasonable alternative to secret?

The words surreptitious and secret are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority.

the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

When could underhanded be used to replace secret?

While in some cases nearly identical to secret, underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

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 secret
Noun
Marina was adamant to the federal agents that her former husband could never have given secrets to another country. — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 There’s dungeons or the headsman’s block for someone with that many secrets to spill. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Page this week broke her 26-year silence on the briefing that preceded the secret switch. — Tiago Ventura, Time, 12 Aug. 2026 Hidden behind secret doors in the library, a screening room gives the house an appropriately cinematic twist. — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for secret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secret
  1. confidence
  2. mystery
  3. key
  4. clandestine
  5. undercover
  6. secluded
  7. confidential
  8. ticket
Noun
  • The Bears haven’t ruled out the possibility of getting Trapilo at least some reps during training camp this month to test him out and rebuild his confidence in padded practices.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That signal could help security teams identify compromises with greater confidence.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of confidence
Noun
  • Joe Conti, an independent researcher and physics enthusiast based in Massachusetts, is inviting eclipse observers across Iceland and Spain to capture the optical mystery on their smartphones as part of a citizen science project.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Avoiding a court case also helped keep the the reason behind their breakup a mystery, though both have since hinted that the burden of fame and the constant pressure of being in the spotlight were more than the couple could bear.
    — Francesca Pellegrini, Vanity Fair, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • The haunting 56-second clip begins with a theater curtain opening to reveal a nearly empty stage with just a piano and the C key playing repeatedly by itself.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Once a website sets a session cookie, the visiting browser must send a form of the cookie that’s signed with the key stored in the silicon.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of key
Adjective
  • In reality, the clandestine operation meant that, for a portion of time, the President’s real whereabouts were seemingly unknown to—and concealed from—the White House press pool.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Mexican authorities have dismantled well over a thousand clandestine drug laboratories, seized enormous quantities of narcotics and fentanyl pills, arrested thousands of cartel operatives, and extradited major criminal figures to the United States.
    — Chris Shays, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • The victim eventually agreed to pay the $22,450 to an unkown man posing as an undercover law enforcement officer In the parking lot of a Marathon grocery store, according to the sheriff's office.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Barnes did not disclose the online platforms used for the operation, saying that withholding the information is necessary to protect undercover operations like Operation Cyber Shield in other jurisdictions.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • The secluded beach of Apigania (south), with crystal clear water and fine sand on the southwest part of the island, takes some effort to reach.
    — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Kohler, Wisconsin Tucked away just one hour north of Milwaukee and two and a half hours north of Chicago, Kohler, Wisconsin’s private cabin collection offers an unforgettable fall retreat - where secluded luxury meets vibrant natural beauty.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of secluded
Adjective
  • Imagine if legal issues, confidential complaints, private stakeholders and so on were mentioned or included.
    — Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The plane had transported the ammunition from France to Germany and was due for onward travel, according to a report from Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, citing a confidential police report.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of confidential
Noun
  • Birmingham26, the organisers, say that half of their 250,000 tickets — across morning and evening sessions — are £30 or cheaper.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Disneyland Resort in California offered $50 single-day park hopper tickets for kids ages 3-9 all summer, which typically range from $168 to $279.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of ticket

Phrases Containing secret

Browse Nearby Words

secrecy
secret
secret agent
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Cite this Entry

“Secret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secret. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on secret

Nglish: Translation of secret for Spanish Speakers

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