covert op
Clandestine government action
A covert op is a secret operation, typically conducted by military or intelligence agencies without public acknowledgment.
The term implies deniability—if exposed, the sponsoring government can disavow involvement.
The CIA ran covert ops throughout the Cold War.
Often shortened from covert operation, the phrase carries connotations of espionage, sabotage, or clandestine military action.
- black opsUnacknowledged covert activities
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- CIAU.S. foreign intelligence service
spy · mission · false flag · infiltration · need to know · sabotage · classified · shadow · extraction · extraction team · handler · asset · surveillance · dead drop · safe house · black site · intelligence · stealth
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- operationsworkflow, workflows, black op, special ops, undercover op
- military operationsoffensive, attack, marines, Desert Storm, raid
- deceptionslie, lies, lying, deceit, decoy
- secretssecrecy, secret, trade secret, secrets, confidential
- military tacticstactics, flanking, maneuver, ambush, battle formations
covert opconventional warfare
Armed conflict using standard military forces
declared war · frontal assault · pitched battle · shock and awe · boots on the ground
covert, cover, covered, covering, covers, uncover, uncovered, covertly, overt