Synonym Chooser

How is the word stealthy distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of stealthy are clandestine, covert, furtive, secret, surreptitious, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

When is it sensible to use clandestine instead of stealthy?

The words clandestine and stealthy can be used in similar contexts, but clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

When might covert be a better fit than stealthy?

The meanings of covert and stealthy largely overlap; however, covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When could furtive be used to replace stealthy?

In some situations, the words furtive and stealthy are roughly equivalent. However, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

When can secret be used instead of stealthy?

Although the words secret and stealthy have much in common, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When is surreptitious a more appropriate choice than stealthy?

The synonyms surreptitious and stealthy are sometimes interchangeable, but surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority.

the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

When would underhanded be a good substitute for stealthy?

The words underhanded and stealthy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Example Sentences

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 stealthy Manned aircraft, however, are still important, especially bombers and stealthy fifth- and sixth-generation fighters. Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 26 Sep. 2025 Another stealthy way to store spice jars is behind a sliding door above the countertop. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025 The servers could be commanded remotely to create massive amounts of phone traffic in a stealthy and unceasing operation that switched out SIM cards quickly to keep federal law enforcement off its trail. John Miller, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025 The British designer made a stealthy comeback in 2023 with a namesake label hinged on her brand of modern minimalism, womanly allure and uncompromising quality. Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stealthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stealthy
Adjective
  • At the time, many bettors turned to social media to say that something shady occurred regarding prop bets involving his stats for that night.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Plants bloom well in shady locations and fill the late-summer gap with narrow, upright panicles packed with white or pink blooms.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Duplicity, directed by Tony Gilroy, follows two corporate spies, Claire (Roberts) and Ray (Owen), who become embroiled in a clandestine love affair.
    Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
  • There’s a clandestine quality to it all.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So sneaky that some play a deadly game of hide and seek.
    NPR, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The Irish have been sneaky good after halftime all season, even during those losses to Miami and Texas A&M.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Get Ready: Katy Perry Has Released a Sneak Peek of Her New Song And the internet has receipts.
    Mehera Bonner, Marie Claire, 15 Mar. 2017
Adjective
  • As a whirlwind rebel offensive encroached on the Syrian capital, Mr. al-Assad’s furtive flight out of Damascus earlier that night took his innermost circle by surprise and became the symbol of his regime’s stunning fall.
    Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Then there was a furtive crunch, crunch, crunch of footsteps.
    Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Friday the incident and the recent air incursion linked to Moscow show Kremlin plans for covert and overt attacks against Europe to prepare for a possible NATO-Russia war.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The device is intended for intelligent underwater detection, real-time environmental monitoring, and potentially covert reconnaissance missions worldwide.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • When Kelce started dating pop star and his now-fiancée, Taylor Swift, in 2023, Nicole notably came under scrutiny for seemingly unfollowing one of Kelce’s teammates on Instagram and recently for making a sly response to a new Swift track that appears to reference her previous romance with Kelce.
    Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Gigi Zumbado is a sly scene-stealer as Ceci, the department’s relatively cool and confident and young photographer, but hasn’t been given much to do besides snark from the sidelines.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Billitier did have a hell of a story to tell about his decades of undercover work for the FBI, including several years infiltrating a Colombian drug ring in Texas.
    Steve Belanger, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The movie is based on the 1980s TV series, starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas, as undercover detectives in South Florida.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stealthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stealthy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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