secretively
Without others knowing
Secretively is the adverb form of secretive, describing actions done in a way that conceals them from others.
If you behave secretively, you take pains to hide what you're doing or thinking.
She glanced secretively at her phone under the table.
The word often carries a faintly negative connotation, suggesting someone is being unnecessarily evasive or has something to hide.
Secretly engaged in espionage
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- cloak-and-daggerInvolving secret intrigue
espionage · spy · infiltrate · covert · confidential · classified · hush-hush · off-the-record
Kept out of sight
- veiledConcealed or obscured
- maskedHaving face covered
- cloakedConcealed or covered
- shroudedCovered and hidden
disguised · camouflaged · obscured · covered · buried · tucked-away · stashed · cached
undercover
Secretly engaged in espionage
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- incognitoWith identity concealed
cloak-and-dagger · espionage · spy · infiltrate · covert · confidential · classified · hush-hush · off-the-record · private
hidden
Kept out of sight
shrouded · disguised · camouflaged · obscured · covered · buried · tucked-away · stashed · cached · ensconced
sneaky
Stealthily deceptive
- slyCleverly deceptive
- shiftySeeming dishonest or evasive
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
devious · guileful · crafty · scheming · conniving · wily · cunning · duplicitous · two-faced · deceitful
silent
Producing no sound
muffled · soundless · tiptoe · catlike · ghostly · undetected · unseen · invisible · unnoticed · unobserved
secretivelyopenly
Without hiding anything
overtly · publicly · transparently · in the open · out in the open
secretivelyfrankly
Without concealment or evasion
candidly · openly · communicatively · forthrightly · directly
- secretive gatheringsHidden group convocations
- secretive creaturesAnimals prone to concealment