covert ops
Clandestine government actions
Covert ops is informal shorthand for covert operations—secret military or intelligence activities designed to be undetectable or deniable by the sponsoring government.
The term evokes spy thrillers and clandestine missions: The agency ran covert ops throughout the Cold War.
In casual use, it can describe any sneaky undertaking: Getting the surprise party ready required some covert ops.
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- false flagOperation disguised as enemy's
shadow · classified · undercover · double agent · reconnaissance · extraction · extraction team · surveillance · intelligence · spycraft · handler · asset · dead drop · safe house · black site · mission · stealth · encrypted
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- Spy Fictionspy, secret agent, double agent, MI6, CIA
- security termsPIN, password, passwords, encryption, encrypted
- spy gamesstealth, gadgets, secret agent, agents, infiltration
- spy thrillerspies, espionage, double agents, undercover, classified
covert opsdiplomatic channels
Formal interstate communication routes
treaty negotiations · public policy · press conferences · white papers · diplomatic engagement
covert opsdiplomacy
Negotiation between nations
peace talks · soft power · trade agreements · cultural exchange · foreign aid
covert, ops, cover, covered, covering, covers, uncover, uncovered, discover