secrete

as in to conceal
to put into a hiding place the police found the weapon secreted under the driver's seat of the getaway car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word secrete distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of secrete are bury, conceal, hide, and screen. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

Where would bury be a reasonable alternative to secrete?

The words bury and secrete can be used in similar contexts, but bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

In what contexts can conceal take the place of secrete?

In some situations, the words conceal and secrete are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

When might hide be a better fit than secrete?

While in some cases nearly identical to secrete, hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When could screen be used to replace secrete?

While the synonyms screen and secrete are close in meaning, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

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 secrete The long-acting amylin analogue which works by mimicking a hormone that is co-secreted with insulin in the pancreas to increase satiety. Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025 Along with the swamp eels, scientists in the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center have been most concerned about the spread of Cuban tree frogs, which secrete noxious chemicals that are harmful to humans, and alligatorweed, which clogs waterways that can impact infrastructure. Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025 Some plants secrete a sweet substance from nectaries, or nectar glands. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025 Now, scientists are unraveling a dramatic story secreted away in rare, roughly 800 million-year-old volcanic rocks called carbonatites. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for secrete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secrete
Verb
  • The creamy, ultra-pigmented formula contains caffeine and hyaluronic acid to depuff the under eyes, conceal dark under eye circles, and blur fine lines and wrinkles.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Some incarcerated men even accused officers of sending people to the SHU to conceal their own abuses.
    Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Target’s sale has discounts on thousands of storage furniture pieces, like this soft and roomy fleece bench with a lift-top and this cabinet that discreetly hides and deodorizes trash cans.
    Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Johnson sat in the makeup chair for two hours undergoing a transformation process that resulted in the cauliflower ears, a specific browbone piece and other prosthetics, plus hiding his tattoos.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • All three of the boot styles, alongside a product manifest and brand artifacts — all buried in a container designed to withstand the elements, much like its contents.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Later, the researchers send in ultrasonic waves when the same object is hidden in a complex environment, such as a steel ball buried in sand.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Secrete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secrete. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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