undercover
Disguised for missions
Undercover means operating in secret, typically by concealing one's true identity or purpose.
An undercover agent or cop infiltrates criminal organizations by posing as someone else.
The word functions as adjective or adverb: She went undercover to investigate the cult.
Undercover work involves deception in service of larger goals—law enforcement, journalism, or espionage.
Concealed from authorities
- secretConcealed information
- hiddenKept out of sight
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- furtiveSecretive and sly
surreptitious · stealthy · veiled · hush-hush · classified · confidential · off-the-books · shadowy
One who acts independently
- operativeCovert field agent
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- informantOne who provides intelligence
- handlerOne who manages something
asset · espionage · intelligence · CIA · MI6 · KGB · Mossad · tradecraft
Professional crime investigator
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- stingSharp wound from insect
- stakeoutProlonged covert observation
- wiretapHidden listening device
informant · evidence · bust · raid · narcotics · vice · task-force · badge
Adopted false name
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- costumeClothing for portrayal
- identityWho someone is
- personaAssumed public identity
masquerade · impersonation · facade · pretense · charade · makeover · transformation · wig
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
furtive · surreptitious · stealthy · veiled · hush-hush · classified · confidential · off-the-books · shadowy · undetected
agent
One who acts independently
handler · asset · espionage · intelligence · CIA · MI6 · KGB · Mossad · tradecraft · dead-drop
detective
Professional crime investigator
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- stingSharp wound from insect
- stakeoutProlonged covert observation
wiretap · informant · evidence · bust · raid · narcotics · vice · task-force · badge · shield
alias
Adopted false name
persona · masquerade · impersonation · facade · pretense · charade · makeover · transformation · wig · prosthetics
penetrate
Enter or pass through
cell · network · reconnaissance · sabotage · compromise · access · trust · long-term · establish · cultivate
- criminal investigationsinvestigations, crime scene, crime scenes, crime scene investigation, crime scene analysis
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- FBIFBI, agent, special agent, bureau, FBI Academy
- Spy Fictionspy, secret agent, double agent, MI6, CIA
- cop filmsBeverly Hills Cop, Lethal Weapon, Hot Fuzz, RoboCop, Dirty Harry
- spy thrillerspies, espionage, double agents, classified, code names
undercoverovert
Plainly apparent to all
open · unconcealed · visible · undisguised · exposed
undercoveracknowledged
Accepted as true
avowed · declared · known · official · recognized
undercoveraboveboard
Honest and unconcealed
overt · uniformed · plainclothes · straightforward · open
- undercover copDisguised police investigator
- undercover agentsInfiltrators with false identities
- undercover operationSecret infiltration mission
- undercover workSecret investigative operations
- undercover missionsSecret assignments using disguise
- undercover opCovert investigative assignment