clandestinely
Behind closed doors
Clandestinely means in a secret or concealed manner, especially to avoid detection or keep something hidden from authorities or the public: They met clandestinely for months before anyone discovered the affair.
The word implies deliberate secrecy, often because what's being done is forbidden, illicit, or sensitive: weapons clandestinely shipped across the border.
Without others' knowledge
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
- stealthilyIn a covert manner
- furtivelyIn a secretive manner
- incognitoWith identity concealed
sub rosa · under wraps · undetected · discreetly · inconspicuously · unobtrusively · on the sly · hush-hush
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- agentOne who acts independently
- operativeCovert field agent
- handlerOne who manages something
asset · mole · sleeper · infiltrate · surveillance · dead drop · tradecraft · counterintelligence
Crafty and calculating
- plottingDevising a secret plan
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
devious · cunning · crafty · subterfuge · cloak-and-dagger · skulking · sneaking · slinking
Illegal covert transport
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- black marketIllicit trading system
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
backroom · under-the-table · backdoor · off-the-books · money laundering · trafficking · speakeasy · moonshine
secretly
Without others' knowledge
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
- stealthilyIn a covert manner
- furtivelyIn a secretive manner
incognito · sub rosa · under wraps · undetected · discreetly · inconspicuously · unobtrusively · on the sly · hush-hush · behind closed doors
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- agentOne who acts independently
- operativeCovert field agent
handler · asset · mole · sleeper · infiltrate · surveillance · dead drop · tradecraft · counterintelligence · reconnaissance
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- plottingDevising a secret plan
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
duplicitous · devious · cunning · crafty · subterfuge · cloak-and-dagger · skulking · sneaking · slinking · prowling
smuggling
Illegal covert transport
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- black marketIllicit trading system
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
underground · backroom · under-the-table · backdoor · off-the-books · money laundering · trafficking · speakeasy · moonshine · illicit trade
clandestinelyopenly
Without hiding anything
overtly · publicly · visibly · conspicuously · brazenly
clandestinelycandidly
Without concealment or evasion
transparently · above board · officially · forthrightly · frankly
- 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