Definition of secretenext
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for secrete
Verb
  • Supervisors had questioned large loans to companies connected to the bank’s owners and transactions that appeared designed to conceal the extent of those relationships.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The infestation there turns out to conceal something worse, old violence and village secrets resurface, and a figure known as the Rat-Man sets a bloodthirsty swarm loose, leaving Kayla fighting to survive.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • State officials are hiding public information like never before.
    — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Or does the making of art simply help the artist to hide behind another layer of artifice?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • They are buried close to the eternal flame that marks JFK's gravesite, a trio of memorials that are a major draw for the millions of people who visit the Arlington cemetery each year.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Anjali Sachdeva’s story opens with sixteen-year-old Sadie helping the gravedigger bury her parents.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 12 Nov. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Secrete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secrete. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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