surreptitious
Done in secret
Surreptitious describes actions done secretly, usually because they're unauthorized or improper.
A surreptitious glance is stolen when no one's watching.
A surreptitious recording captures conversation without consent.
The word carries a sense of stealth and concealment—not just private, but deliberately hidden: She cast a surreptitious look at her phone during the meeting.
Secretive and sly
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- hiddenKept out of sight
undercover · concealed · veiled · cloaked · discreet · unobtrusive · private · masked
Stealthily deceptive
- slyCleverly deceptive
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
crafty · scheming · conniving · duplicitous · guileful · wily · artful · shifty
Moving slowly, stealthily
- skulkingMoving furtively, covertly
- slinkingMoving with furtive stealth
- prowlingMoving stealthily while hunting
- tiptoeingWalking on foot-fronts
lurking · sidling · ghosting · gliding · padding · stealing · sneaking · shadowy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- eavesdropListen to private conversations
wiretap · cloak-and-dagger · reconnaissance · counterintelligence · mole · informant · sleeper · dead-drop
furtive
Secretive and sly
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
hidden · undercover · concealed · veiled · cloaked · discreet · unobtrusive · private · masked · shrouded
sneaky
Stealthily deceptive
underhanded · crafty · scheming · conniving · duplicitous · guileful · wily · artful · shifty · slippery
creeping
Moving slowly, stealthily
- skulkingMoving furtively, covertly
- slinkingMoving with furtive stealth
- prowlingMoving stealthily while hunting
tiptoeing · lurking · sidling · ghosting · gliding · padding · stealing · sneaking · shadowy · silent
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
eavesdrop · wiretap · cloak-and-dagger · reconnaissance · counterintelligence · mole · informant · sleeper · dead-drop · tradecraft
- stealthsneak, ninja, creep, spy, skulk
- fancy wordsgrandiloquent, magniloquent, sesquipedalian, pulchritudinous, tintinnabulation
surreptitiousovert
Plainly apparent to all
open · conspicuous · blatant · obvious · unconcealed
surreptitiousauthorized
Given official permission
sanctioned · aboveboard · legitimate · official · permitted
surreptitiousfrank
Open and direct
straightforward · candid · forthright · transparent · upfront
- surreptitious glanceSecret, quick look