hidden agendas
Secret underlying purposes
Hidden agendas are unstated motives or goals that differ from what someone claims to be pursuing.
The phrase implies deliberate concealment—a politician advocating for a policy may have a hidden agenda benefiting donors, or a colleague offering help may be angling for your job.
I don't trust him—he always has a hidden agenda.
The singular form works the same way: What's her hidden agenda here?
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
stealth · cloak-and-dagger · infiltration · backdoor · underhanded · shadow · behind-the-scenes · under-the-table
Deliberate misleading of others
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
dishonesty · misleading · dissembling · feigning · pretense · two-faced · disingenuous · ulterior
Meant to stay secret
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- undisclosedNot made known
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- veiledConcealed or obscured
hush-hush · off-the-record · private · cryptic · unrevealed · unspoken · unstated · withheld
Crafty scheming, often hostile
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- puppeteeringAnimating figures by hand
string-pulling · gaming · outmaneuvering · undermining · gaslighting · leverage · power-play · arm-twisting
Advocating to decision-makers
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- astroturfingDisguised sponsored advocacy
- pork-barrelSelf-serving legislative spending
logrolling · cronyism · patronage · quid-pro-quo · earmarks · palm-greasing · corporatism
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
undercover · stealth · cloak-and-dagger · infiltration · backdoor · underhanded · shadow · behind-the-scenes · under-the-table · backroom
deceit
Deliberate misleading of others
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
fraud · dishonesty · misleading · dissembling · feigning · pretense · two-faced · disingenuous · ulterior · scheming
confidential
Meant to stay secret
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- undisclosedNot made known
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
veiled · hush-hush · off-the-record · private · cryptic · unrevealed · unspoken · unstated · withheld · need-to-know
machination
Crafty scheming, often hostile
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
puppeteering · string-pulling · gaming · outmaneuvering · undermining · gaslighting · leverage · power-play · arm-twisting · calculated
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- astroturfingDisguised sponsored advocacy
pork-barrel · logrolling · cronyism · patronage · quid-pro-quo · earmarks · palm-greasing · corporatism
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- secretssecrecy, secret, trade secret, secrets, confidential
- court intrigueintrigue, plots, schemes, plotting, conspiracy
- Behind the Scenesbackstage, stunt double, body double, understudy, stand-in
hidden agendastransparency
State of being see-through
openness · full disclosure · candor · cards on the table · what you see is what you get
hidden agendasgood faith
Sincere, honest intent
sincerity · straightforwardness · honesty · candor · integrity
hidden agendasstraight talk
Honest, direct communication
directness · open communication · frankness · cards on the table · bluntness
hide, hidden, hiding, agenda, hides, agendas, hider, unhidden, hiddenness