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
  • Rigney and Gere play this back-and-forth perfectly, the instantly emerging tension between them barely concealed behind tight smiles.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Even in the bathrooms, the toilet and bidet are concealed inside a kind of Travertine bench and the showerhead pokes out from a monolithic stone slab.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But the takeaway shouldn’t be fear that the US government is hiding the ball.
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Pickens County deputies are searching for a suspect caught on camera trying to use branches to hide their identity.
    Dan Raby, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Burr Oak was the area’s first cemetery to allow blacks to be interred there, and countless African American families would bury relatives there over the years.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • For years, teams have been buried beneath repetitive reporting, administrative work, content revisions and manual research.
    Niki Hall, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 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 8 Aug. 2026.

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