Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

surreptitious

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of surreptitious

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
  • a private investigator adept at taking surreptitious pictures of adulterous couples
Synonyms of surreptitious

backstairs, behind-the-scenes, clandestine, covert, furtive, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, private, privy, secret, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealth, stealthy, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded
Words Related to surreptitious

back-channel, closed-door, off-the-books, off-the-record

classified, confidential, restricted, top secret, undisclosed

concealed, hidden, secreted, subterranean, unadvertised, unexposed
Near Antonyms of surreptitious

acknowledged, avowed

aboveboard, straightforward, unconcealed, undisguised

unclassified, unrestricted

clear, evident, manifest, obvious, patent, plain
Antonyms of surreptitious

open, overt, public

Synonym Discussion of surreptitious

secret, covert, stealthy, furtive, clandestine, surreptitious, underhanded mean done without attracting observation. secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.
    • met at a secret location
covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.
    • covert intelligence operations
stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.
    • the stealthy step of a burglar
furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.
    • lovers exchanging furtive glances
clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.
    • a clandestine meeting of conspirators
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
underhanded stresses fraud or deception.
    • an underhanded trick

Learn More about surreptitious

  1. See words that rhyme with surreptitious Dictionary: Definition of surreptitious Spanish Central: Translation of surreptitious Nglish: Translation of surreptitious for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of surreptitious for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up surreptitious? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games