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secretive

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of secretive

given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge

  • the intelligence agency remained secretive despite the mediaʼs demands for more openness in government
Synonyms of secretive

close, closemouthed, dark, reticent, tight-mouthed, uncommunicative
Words Related to secretive

quiet, reserved, silent, taciturn, tight-lipped

discreet, prudent

clandestine, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, secret, sneak, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underhand, underhanded
Near Antonyms of secretive

candid, frank, honest, out-front, up-front

blunt, outspoken, tactless
Antonyms of secretive

communicative, open

Synonym Discussion of secretive

silent, taciturn, reticent, reserved, secretive mean showing restraint in speaking. silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.
    • the strong, silent type
taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.
    • taciturn villagers
reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.
    • was reticent about his plans
reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.
    • greetings were brief, formal, and reserved
secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal.
    • the secretive research and development division

Learn More about secretive

  1. See words that rhyme with secretive Dictionary: Definition of secretive Spanish Central: Translation of secretive Nglish: Translation of secretive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of secretive for Arabic speakers

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