Synonyms of secretly

secretly

adverb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• privately
• confidentially
• in private
• intimately
• backstage
• in camera
• covertly
• clandestinely
• inwardly
• à deux
• tête-à-tête
• surreptitiously
• furtively
• secretively
• stealthily
• sneakily
• conspiratorially
• collusively
• underhandedly
• sotto voce
• undercover
• underground
• offstage
• offscreen
• underhanded
• underhand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• publicly
• openly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of secretly

As millions of people buy into the smart glasses fad each year, the odds are increasing that you could be secretly recorded while simply going about your day. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026

Too bad then that Sophie is such a softie, secretly inviting the whirling dervish to their two days of rest and relaxation. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026

The two secretly married in December 2023 and welcomed their first child together, a son named Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, in July 2024. — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Did another camper demonstrating their wind-generating superpowers at the talent show secretly help out? — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2026

According to Treasury, fishing vessels secretly rendezvoused at sea with smaller go-fast boats carrying cocaine north through the eastern Pacific. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Prosecutors allege that the SPLC secretly paid members of those groups to act as confidential informants without telling donors. — Art Jipson, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

After all, OpenAI allowed its AI models to secretly conspire with one another and then escape into the real world, conducting real-world hacking. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026

The Los Angeles district attorney has backed off felony charges against a police officer who secretly recorded his colleagues making racist remarks after facing criticism the response was too harsh and could deter whistleblowers from coming forward. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026