SECRETLY Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

secretly

adverb

Definition of secretly

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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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 secretly The police suspect Juggut Singh, a Sikh peasant with a criminal record who, on the night of the killing, was secretly meeting Nooran, the daughter of a Muslim priest and weaver. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026 After Meta’s smart glasses helped normalize secretly recording people, Instagram is taking a major step to discourage such behavior. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026 Somersault Wonder Bernad Sia and estranged husband Bernad secretly welcomed their first child and her third son, Somersault Wonder, on March 27, 2024. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 23 July 2026 OpenAI model secretly broke out of secure environment and hacked a competitor. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 22 July 2026 Binaggia, facing escalating threats from a ringleader who carried a handgun and owned a German shepherd with a shock collar, began secretly recording his meetings in late 2015. — Jay Weaver july 21, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026 Do the children secretly yearn for dazzling time signature changes, for theatrical concept albums, for Moog racks? — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026 Quince has secretly become our favorite source for bags that feel far more luxurious than their price tags. — Kaitlin Marks, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026 Nick and Charlie run into one another at a gay nightclub during Pride — a meeting Tara Jones (Corinna Brown) secretly orchestrated without their knowledge. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for secretly

Adverb

George is expected to celebrate his birthday privately on Wednesday, with a party reportedly planned to celebrate not only his milestone birthday but also the completion of his studies at Lambrook School.

— Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 22 July 2026
The independent autopsy, which was privately funded, is separate from the official autopsy performed by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office on July 7.

— Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of privately

Adverb

SpaceX went public in a record-setting IPO in June, the same month OpenAI confidentially filed for its own IPO.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 13 July 2026
Baidu confidentially filed a listing application for Kunlunxin on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at the start of the year, though offering details, including size and structure, were undecided then.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 29 June 2026

Definition of confidentially

Browse Nearby Words

secretiveness

secretly

secrets

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“Secretly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secretly. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of secretly

adverb

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