SURREPTITIOUS Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'surreptitious' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of surreptitious are clandestine , covert , furtive , secret , stealthy , and underhanded . While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," 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

Q: When would 'clandestine' be a good substitute for 'surreptitious'?

The synonyms clandestine and surreptitious are sometimes interchangeable, 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

Q: In what contexts can 'covert' take the place of 'surreptitious'?

While the synonyms covert and surreptitious are close in meaning, covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared. // covert intelligence operations

Q: When might 'furtive' be a better fit than 'surreptitious'?

While in some cases nearly identical to surreptitious , furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness. // lovers exchanging furtive glances

Q: Where would 'secret' be a reasonable alternative to 'surreptitious'?

The meanings of secret and surreptitious largely overlap; however, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive. // met at a secret location

Q: When could 'stealthy' be used to replace 'surreptitious'?

The words stealthy and surreptitious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing. // the stealthy step of a burglar

Q: When is 'underhanded' a more appropriate choice than 'surreptitious'?

The words underhanded and surreptitious can be used in similar contexts, but underhanded stresses fraud or deception. // an underhanded trick

surreptitious

adjective

ˌsər-əp-ˈti-shəs

Definition of surreptitious next

as in clandestine

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 & Similar Words

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How is the word surreptitious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of surreptitious are clandestine, covert, furtive, secret, stealthy, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," 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 clandestine be a good substitute for surreptitious?

The synonyms clandestine and surreptitious are sometimes interchangeable, 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

In what contexts can covert take the place of surreptitious?

While the synonyms covert and surreptitious are close in meaning, covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When might furtive be a better fit than surreptitious?

While in some cases nearly identical to surreptitious, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

Where would secret be a reasonable alternative to surreptitious?

The meanings of secret and surreptitious largely overlap; however, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When could stealthy be used to replace surreptitious?

The words stealthy and surreptitious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

When is underhanded a more appropriate choice than surreptitious?

The words underhanded and surreptitious can be used in similar contexts, but 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 surreptitious Misty was a friendless creep, hence her surreptitious dismantling of the plane’s black box to prolong her adventure with the popular girls and her beloved coach. —

Judy Berman, TIME, 2 Oct. 2024 But in a world of mostly unregulated data collection (at least in the U.S.) and AI processing power, brands may be tweaking prices in more surreptitious ways that are much harder to get around. —

Webb Wright, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2024 The woman abandoned her surreptitious approach and held up her cell phone, taking a video for at least ten minutes—the whole route to the Globus complex, and the path into the quiet harbor behind it. —

Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024 For the defense, the government’s surreptitious recordings were hard to overcome. —

Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for surreptitious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for surreptitious

Adjective

Given the clandestine nature of the process, the true number of fictitious sons who arrived during exclusion will never be known.

— Jane Hu, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025
Inspired by the Belle Époque era in 1900 Buenos Aires, the soaring space manages to feel clandestine with its dim lighting, lush floral displays, and bartenders in crisp white jackets.

— Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025