hidden agenda
Secret underlying purpose
A hidden agenda is a secret motive or ulterior purpose behind someone's actions or statements.
The term implies deception—publicly stated goals masking private intentions: Critics accused the committee of having a hidden agenda.
Someone with a hidden agenda appears to pursue one thing while actually working toward another.
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- smoke screenDeceptive concealment tactic
- cabalScheming political faction
- secret societyCovert fraternal organization
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
duplicity · covert · secrecy · scheme · undercurrent · double-dealing · double agent · prejudice · clandestine · subtext · ulterior motive · manipulation · ax to grind · machination · pulling strings · deep state · concealment · shadow government
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- thriller elementstwists, suspense, tension, anticipation, cliffhanger
- thrillerssuspense, thriller, nail-biter, page-turner, cliffhanger
- hidden motivesulterior motive, secret plan, scheming, plotting, deceit
- motivesintent, motive, intention, purpose, goal
hidden agendatransparency
State of being see-through
openness · full disclosure · candor · cards on the table · plain dealing
hidden agendagood faith
Sincere, honest intent
honesty · sincerity · straightforwardness · forthrightness · guilelessness