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 character was reimagined in the 2025 adaptation as the bride-to-be of Frankenstein's younger brother (for whom the scientist secretly harbors feelings).
—
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Her upcoming book is a rallying cry for high-achieving women who appear unstoppable but secretly feel stuck.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
The news is met with outrage by Krystal (Anissa Borrego), her ditzy but loyal star flyer, and with histrionic despair by her secretly devious assistant coach, named Tammy Istiny.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
During a conversation with Entertainment Weekly's Awardist podcast, the Frankenstein star reflects on the infamous bathtub scene in Emerald Fennell's 2023 thriller, which saw Oliver (Barry Keoghan) slurp up bathwater after secretly witnessing Felix (Elordi) masturbate in the tub.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
In the film, they’re forced to square off against a rival boy band called the Saja Boys, who are also secretly demons.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Denver Water secretly reached a deal with the Broncos to cede 25 acres of its 36-acre campus.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2025
Ilana presents herself as a stout-hearted reformer who’s being targeted by fascistic insurgents but is secretly evil enough to engineer an apocalypse.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
This malware secretly collects usernames, passwords and website logins from infected devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Her upcoming book is a rallying cry for high-achieving women who appear unstoppable but secretly feel stuck.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
The news is met with outrage by Krystal (Anissa Borrego), her ditzy but loyal star flyer, and with histrionic despair by her secretly devious assistant coach, named Tammy Istiny.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
During a conversation with Entertainment Weekly's Awardist podcast, the Frankenstein star reflects on the infamous bathtub scene in Emerald Fennell's 2023 thriller, which saw Oliver (Barry Keoghan) slurp up bathwater after secretly witnessing Felix (Elordi) masturbate in the tub.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
In the film, they’re forced to square off against a rival boy band called the Saja Boys, who are also secretly demons.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Denver Water secretly reached a deal with the Broncos to cede 25 acres of its 36-acre campus.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2025
Ilana presents herself as a stout-hearted reformer who’s being targeted by fascistic insurgents but is secretly evil enough to engineer an apocalypse.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
This malware secretly collects usernames, passwords and website logins from infected devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secretly
Adverb
-
While head coaches typically own their losses publicly and privately, Canales said losses like the one to the Saints stick with him a bit more because of the offensive performance as the unit’s primary play-caller.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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The pair will spend some time bonding privately in the Giraffe Building before zoo visitors will have an opportunity to see them in action in the African Plains Building.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
That might serve as an incentive for AI companies to stop sharing their most advanced models, instead running them confidentially, in a bid to capture as much of their upside as possible.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The two sides settled confidentially last year and Joyride emerged from bankruptcy.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secretly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secretly. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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