as in privately
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others
the girl secretly told her friends about the birthday party so it would be a surprise to the birthday girl
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Recent Examples of secretly
The suggestion that someone was secretly paying Duran was hilarious to anyone with a cursory familiarity with the attenuated state of the journalism industry.
—
Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Based on the graphic novels of the same name, the titular Old Guard is made up of a group of immortal mercenaries tasked with secretly protecting humanity over the centuries.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
Now, there is another path to bypass parents and secretly push kids toward these dangerous drugs and surgeries.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Fernand, her own cousin, who is secretly in love with her; Danglars, an ambitious manipulator; and above all Héloïse de Villefort, the implacable wife of the town prosecutor.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Eight Rhode Island artists secretly build a home inside a mall.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Throughout their time on YouTube, a portion of their fanbase heavily speculated that the two were secretly dating to the point of invading their privacy.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2025
While the two were discussing the deal, Niroula secretly let Bustamante and McCarthy into the house.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Dateline During the meeting with Lambert, Niroula secretly let in two accomplices who fatally stabbed the art dealer and buried him in a shallow grave north of Los Angeles, Hightower said.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Based on the graphic novels of the same name, the titular Old Guard is made up of a group of immortal mercenaries tasked with secretly protecting humanity over the centuries.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
Now, there is another path to bypass parents and secretly push kids toward these dangerous drugs and surgeries.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Fernand, her own cousin, who is secretly in love with her; Danglars, an ambitious manipulator; and above all Héloïse de Villefort, the implacable wife of the town prosecutor.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Eight Rhode Island artists secretly build a home inside a mall.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Throughout their time on YouTube, a portion of their fanbase heavily speculated that the two were secretly dating to the point of invading their privacy.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2025
While the two were discussing the deal, Niroula secretly let Bustamante and McCarthy into the house.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Dateline During the meeting with Lambert, Niroula secretly let in two accomplices who fatally stabbed the art dealer and buried him in a shallow grave north of Los Angeles, Hightower said.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secretly
Adverb
-
Several women founders have privately supported the idea.—
Lila MacLellan,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The church can start today — preach one sermon naming abuse, post hotline resources, and meet privately with survivors to listen and learn.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The two sides settled confidentially last year and Joyride emerged from bankruptcy.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
-
So these cases are almost always settled confidentially.—
Stayton Bonner,
Robb Report,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secretly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secretly. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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