wetwork
Espionage term, murder
Wetwork is slang for assassination or violent covert operations, especially those carried out by intelligence agencies or organized crime.
The term alludes to blood—the "wet" in wetwork.
It appears in spy fiction and true crime: The CIA denied involvement in any wetwork.
Sometimes spelled as two words.
Professional paid murderer
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- executionCompleting a planned task
- liquidationSelling assets for cash
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
target · silencer · poison · garrote · sniper · mercenary · enforcer · operative
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- tradecraftEspionage methods and skills
agent · operative · handler · asset · mole · sleeper · infiltration · counterintelligence
hitman
Professional paid murderer
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- executionCompleting a planned task
- liquidationSelling assets for cash
elimination · target · silencer · poison · garrote · sniper · mercenary · enforcer · operative · cleaner
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
tradecraft · agent · operative · handler · asset · mole · sleeper · infiltration · counterintelligence · surveillance
mafia
Criminal organization using intimidation
- underworldRealm of the departed
- ganglandCriminal organization's domain
- mobDisorderly, aggressive crowd
contract · cartel · syndicate · famiglia · enforcer · omertà · rubout · whack · ice · muscle
wetworkinterrogation
Formal, probing examination
surveillance · extraction · rendition · safekeeping · capture
wetworksurveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
reconnaissance · intelligence gathering · signals intelligence · SIGINT · electronic surveillance
wet, work, wets, wetted, wetting, wetter, wettest, wetness, works