black op
Deniable government action
A black op is a covert military or intelligence operation conducted outside official channels, often deniable by the government that authorized it.
The secrecy may cover illegal activity, political sensitivity, or simply the need for plausible deniability: The assassination was a black op—no paper trail, no witnesses.
Short for black operation.
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- agentOne who acts independently
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
mole · eavesdropping · interception · codebreaking · reconnaissance · asset · handler · tradecraft
Concealed from authorities
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- covertIntentionally concealed
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
deniable · off-the-books · shadow · ghost · dark · unacknowledged · plausible deniability · need-to-know
Elite unconventional warfare troops
- commandoSpecial operations soldier
- raidSudden armed incursion
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- sniperConcealed precision shooter
SAS · insertion · strike team · paramilitary · mercenary · contractor · operative · tactical
Involving significant danger
- perilousFraught with danger
- life-threateningRisking death
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
volatile · hostile territory · behind enemy lines · burned · compromised · blown cover · disavowed · expendable
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- agentOne who acts independently
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
counterintelligence · mole · eavesdropping · interception · codebreaking · reconnaissance · asset · handler · tradecraft · dead drop
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- covertIntentionally concealed
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
classified · deniable · off-the-books · shadow · ghost · dark · unacknowledged · plausible deniability · need-to-know · compartmentalized
special forces
Elite unconventional warfare troops
sniper · SAS · insertion · strike team · paramilitary · mercenary · contractor · operative · tactical · breach
high-risk
Involving significant danger
- perilousFraught with danger
- life-threateningRisking death
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
treacherous · volatile · hostile territory · behind enemy lines · burned · compromised · blown cover · disavowed · expendable · suicide mission
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- operationsoperation, operations, military operation, joint operation, workflow
- military operationsoffensive, attack, marines, Desert Storm, NATO operations
- military tacticstactics, flanking, maneuver, ambush, battle formations