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 In animals, poison is often secreted and becomes toxic when ingested or comes into contact with skin. Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 13 June 2025 Recently, researchers modified male mosquitoes to secrete toxic proteins in their semen, to kill female mosquitoes after mating. Jay Kakade june 16, New Atlas, 16 June 2025 That pressure may even lead the body to secrete a little extra oxytocin, the love hormone humans produce when cuddling. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025 These newest findings on its effects related to amyloid deposits identified a protein called CagA — secreted by most strains of human H. pylori — as the key component. F.d. Flam, Twin Cities, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for secrete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secrete
Verb
  • Beyond medical interventions, many people with FFA use makeup and prosthetic hair pieces to conceal sparse and scarred parts.
    Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The trust premium that sustainability generates comes from transparency, not virtue concealed in spreadsheets.
    Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Extraterrestrial Easter Eggs and Fun Facts – Uncover the references and characters from some of your favorite Pixar films hidden throughout Elio, along with other fun facts.
    John Archer, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • One goalkeeper displayed his cues; the other ensured hers (and those of her opponent) remained hidden.
    Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • YouTube siphons up to 45% of ad revenue; Spotify pays artists less than a penny per stream; TikTok’s algorithm can bury a post without warning.
    Tomer Warschauer Nuni, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The Iranians had built a uranium-enrichment facility at Fordo and buried it inside a mountain — nearly 300 feet beneath the surface.
    Yossi Melman, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Secrete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secrete. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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