1
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
an undercover operation to infiltrate the terrorist organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
within the city was a well-organized fifth column, and these undercovers would make themselves known as soon as the invading forces breached the city limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in underground
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of undercover
Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
That includes promoting undercover videos showing the perils of factory farming, sometimes with narrators or amplifiers like Joaquin Phoenix, Alicia Silverstone, Pamela Anderson and Woody Harrelson.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026
Byron Tau, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Law enforcement officers working in plain clothes or undercover is nothing new.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undercover
Adjective
Authorities will have uniformed and undercover officers along the course, and cameras will be active along the Boston portion of the course, with observation points set up around the finish line area in Back Bay to monitor the crowd.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
That includes promoting undercover videos showing the perils of factory farming, sometimes with narrators or amplifiers like Joaquin Phoenix, Alicia Silverstone, Pamela Anderson and Woody Harrelson.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
Masks were once largely forbidden on the federal level unless an agent was working undercover, said Michael Bouchard, a former assistant director at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives who retired in 2007.
—Byron Tau, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Law enforcement officers working in plain clothes or undercover is nothing new.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undercover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undercover
Adjective
-
Manson uncovers evidence of two clandestine killer-robot programs, one aerial and the other aquatic, which are being developed in haste.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
-
This biopic — which Cooper also directed and co-wrote — centers on the complex relationship between Bernstein and his wife, the Costa Rican-Chilean actress Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan), while also exploring his clandestine affairs with men.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Other such discrimination is more covert.—
Alison Somin,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The hypoallergenic, 100-percent cotton fabric provides a breathable option for covert breastfeeding.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The studio, which recently took over creative control of the spy franchise, has hired Denis Villeneuve to direct the next installment.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Our spies tell us that the 2028 Lamborghini Temerario Spyder will debut some time in 2027.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
16 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Leaking pipes located underground can also attract tree roots.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2026
-
For more than 40 years, major film studios have stored movie reels, props and costumes 650 feet underground in a Hutchinson, Kansas, salt mine.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
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
-
Players will search through every hallway for secret rooms and look for hidden paths to gain upgrade resources and mods that will make the campaign easier or open up new combat opportunities.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Expect warming Scottish fare of venison pies, sea trout, sticky date pudding, and an extraordinary whisky list, including house exclusives like the secret-recipe Badger Juice, only available on property.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His former clients include the political operatives Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
-
During the same period, Democratic operative Mayra Macías reported raising nearly $102,000 and had more than $159,000 on hand.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Katas wan't recording in the front seat, so Christine, seated beside the wives in the back, surreptitiously pulled out her phone to record Bateman.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Trump may have also relieved pressure on Democrats to surreptitiously help one of the Republicans to leap ahead, so as to avoid a 1-2 GOP outcome.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undercover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undercover. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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