clandestine
Done in shadows
Clandestine describes something kept secret, especially because it's illicit or unauthorized: a clandestine affair, clandestine meetings with the resistance.
The word suggests deliberate concealment from authorities or the public, carrying more weight than merely private or confidential.
Clandestine operations are hidden because exposure would bring consequences.
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- agentOne who acts independently
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
reconnaissance · mole · informant · counterintelligence · dead-drop · tradecraft · asset · handler
Kept out of sight
- veiledConcealed or obscured
- disguisedConcealed true identity
- camouflagedVisually hidden by coloring
- maskedHaving face covered
Secretive and sly
- sneakyStealthily deceptive
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- undetectedNot discovered yet
- unseenNot perceived visually
noiseless · silent · shadowy · ghostly · elusive · skulking · creeping · tiptoeing
Not allowed
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
- illegalForbidden by statute
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
bootleg · black-market · underground · under-the-table · backdoor · off-the-books · unlicensed · prohibition
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- agentOne who acts independently
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
surveillance · reconnaissance · mole · informant · counterintelligence · dead-drop · tradecraft · asset · handler · sleeper
hidden
Kept out of sight
- veiledConcealed or obscured
- disguisedConcealed true identity
- camouflagedVisually hidden by coloring
masked · shrouded · incognito · alias · cover · obscured · covert
furtive
Secretive and sly
- sneakyStealthily deceptive
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- undetectedNot discovered yet
unseen · noiseless · silent · shadowy · ghostly · elusive · skulking · creeping · tiptoeing · prowling
forbidden
Not allowed
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
- illegalForbidden by statute
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
smuggling · bootleg · black-market · underground · under-the-table · backdoor · off-the-books · unlicensed · prohibition · trafficking
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- cabalScheming political faction
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
collusion · machination · sedition · treason · coup · backroom · complicity · betrayal · insider · leak
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- concealmentconceal, hiding, concealing, concealed, hide
- confidentialconfidential, secret, private, classified, undisclosed
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- Privateprivate, confidential, secret, personal, hidden
clandestineovert
Plainly apparent to all
open · public · visible · unconcealed · manifest
clandestineaboveboard
Honest and unconcealed
official · authorized · legitimate · sanctioned · acknowledged
clandestineforthright
Directly honest in manner
frank · transparent · candid · straightforward · truthful
- clandestine affairSecret romantic relationship
- clandestine meetingConcealed gathering of parties
- clandestine operationsSecret activities by agencies
- clandestine missionsSecret unauthorized operations
- clandestine activitiesSecret actions, hidden undertakings
- clandestine networksConcealed systems of coordination