intel
Enemy secrets gathered
Intel is informal shorthand for intelligence in the espionage or military sense—information gathered about enemies, competitors, or situations: We need more intel before we make a move, The intel suggests they're planning something big.
The word has spread from spy thrillers and military contexts into casual use for any useful information: What's the intel on the new boss? (Capitalized Intel is the semiconductor company.)
U.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- MI6UK espionage agency
- KGBUSSR intelligence service
Mossad · spy · operative · asset · informant · counterintelligence · surveillance · clandestine
Information-gathering before action
- tacticalStrategically planned
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
- situational awarenessPerception of surroundings
- threat assessmentEvaluating potential for harm
targeting · mission · briefing · debriefing · actionable · asset · signal · imagery
Driven by rivalry
- market researchAnalyzing buyer preferences systematically
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
- trade secretHidden business knowledge
due diligence · insider · strategic · actionable · dossier · reports · forecasting · rivals
CIA
U.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- MI6UK espionage agency
KGB · Mossad · spy · operative · asset · informant · counterintelligence · surveillance · clandestine · covert
reconnaissance
Information-gathering before action
- tacticalStrategically planned
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
- situational awarenessPerception of surroundings
threat assessment · targeting · mission · briefing · debriefing · actionable · asset · signal · imagery · geospatial
competitive
Driven by rivalry
- market researchAnalyzing buyer preferences systematically
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
trade secret · due diligence · insider · strategic · actionable · dossier · reports · forecasting · rivals · acquisition
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- military slangFUBAR, hoorah, devil dog, SNAFU, GI
- informationdata, facts, details, knowledge, info
- FBIFBI, agent, special agent, bureau, FBI Academy
- Spy Fictionspy, secret agent, double agent, MI6, CIA
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
inteldisinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
misinformation · propaganda · lies · deception · fake news
intelignorance
Absence of knowledge
cluelessness · unawareness · obliviousness · darkness · fog of war
- artificial intelligenceMachines mimicking human thought
- intelligence agencyOrganization gathering secret information
- military intelligenceWartime information gathering
- intelligence officerClandestine information gatherer
- artificially intelligentMachine-based reasoning capability
- intelligent lifeBeings with cognitive awareness
intelligent, intelligence, intellectual, intellect, unintelligent, intelligible, intelligently, intelligibility, intelligentsia