as in confidential
kept completely hidden from the public by high government officials
top secret documents The mission is top secret.
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Recent Examples of top secret
The stunt was kept top secret, even from some of Kelly's own staff.
—
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
The dress was top secret—Burton didn't even tell her mom.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
Royce Williams, who is eligible to receive the Medal of Honor for his 1952 dogfight against seven Soviet MiGs, which was classified top secret for more than 50 years.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
However, specific plot and character details are being kept top secret for now — including whether any former cast members will return.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for top secret
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
The dress was top secret—Burton didn't even tell her mom.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
Royce Williams, who is eligible to receive the Medal of Honor for his 1952 dogfight against seven Soviet MiGs, which was classified top secret for more than 50 years.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
However, specific plot and character details are being kept top secret for now — including whether any former cast members will return.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for top secret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for top secret
Adjective
-
All calls are toll-free and confidential.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Jordan said the teams found compromises to make such a desire a reality, though the financial terms of the settlement are confidential and will not be disclosed, NASCAR said in a statement.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Drone operators who violate the restricted space face criminal penalties.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
The deal will also save the Panthers from placing a restricted tender on Coker in 2027.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
The verdict was delivered amid difficult personal circumstances for Mette-Marit, Hoiby’s mother, who needs a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
That opened access to low-interest loans for homeowners, businesses and nonprofits but not grants for personal expenses like temporary housing.—
Daniel C. Vock,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
There is a difference between proving something in court — which could raise public awareness — and assessing such attacks in the context of a wider threat and often classified and incomplete intelligence.—
Emma Burrows,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
In 2013, as first reported by The Guardian, former CIA employee Edward Snowden leaked classified information from the NSA about the organization's global surveillance programs, which were much more far-reaching than had been reported.—
Dan Snierson,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
These include everything from mountain buggy rides and cenote dives to private sails and visits to national parks—all within a 45-minute drive.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
And in a market where the prevailing press narrative has grown increasingly alarmed about private credit stress, the firm’s public positioning is notable—and worth scrutinizing.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Such a fracture would normally sink a band, especially one that had been active for a decade, with five ambitious, esoteric albums to their credit and a solid, but perhaps not growing, fan base.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
12 June 2026
-
Sounds kind of esoteric, but actually a lot of fundamental discoveries were made from that system that ended up relating to things like how human chromosomes go awry and give rise to cancer.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Top secret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/top%20secret. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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