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 Dozens of pages of documents describe agents secretly infiltrating meetings, monitoring activist chat groups and using license plate numbers to compile names of people who attended gatherings. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 In 1963, the Corvette’s father, Zora Arkus-Duntov, began working secretly on a race car that would be able to best the famed Shelby Cobra. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026 The tool could help address misuse like, for example, the former Milwaukee police officer who court documents show secretly used Flock to search the location of his romantic partner 124 times. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 An Army gynecologist charged with secretly video recording patients during exams pleaded not guilty Wednesday. — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026 Like the book, Bret is living a double life, dating a girl in public while secretly sleeping with a boy. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 The president secretly flying in a second plane has been publicized before, such as during former President Bill Clinton’s March 2000 trip to Islamabad, Pakistan. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026 In 2000, President Bill Clinton secretly switched to an unmarked plane for a trip to Pakistan. — Philip Wang, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 The new photos show the catering truck that was reported to have hidden the president to secretly transfer him to another plane. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for secretly

Adverb

Christie’s privately sold Van Gogh’s Zouave (1888) for roughly $190 million and offered two Paul Signac paintings from the collection last November.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Democrats have wondered, most privately out of a desire not to offend Blumenthal, if Bronin’s run against Larson offered a template for someone to similarly challenge the senator.

— Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of privately

Adverb

The company confidentially filed its prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June, but hasn’t disclosed an official timeline for its debut.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
SpaceX priced one of the largest IPOs in history this summer, and both OpenAI and Anthropic have confidentially filed paperwork with the SEC, each racing to be the first pure play AI company to trade publicly.

— Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 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 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of secretly

adverb

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