as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
an influential Washington lobbyist who has been involved in a number of backstairs deals to limit regulation of financial institutions
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Recent Examples of backstairs
And in North Carolina, a boyish trial lawyer with jury-pleasing charm (John Edwards) knocked off Lauch Faircloth, a GOP senator who played a backstairs role in getting Kenneth Starr appointed as independent counsel.
—
Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 6 June 2019
Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 6 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstairs
Adjective
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Brendan Marks and Matt Baker uncovered documents that illustrate North Carolina’s clandestine research into conference realignment.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
12 Feb. 2025
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This defiant and entertaining work playfully uses headshots and avatars to visualize clandestine audio recordings documenting years of Kafkaesque impositions, threats, and vital dissident art.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The series also highlighted how Illinois statutes provide a degree of protection to politicians. To prosecute their case, the feds brought charges against Madigan after extensive wiretapping and cooperation from two undercover moles, former 25th Ward Ald.—
Megan Crepeau,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2025
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In May 2023, an undercover police officer went into the Schenectady deli and grocery where Alaidrus was working behind the counter.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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As previously reported by The News, the MTA has been struggling to fix a 2,000 foot underground pipe at the facility since 2021, when the line responsible for feeding the sprinkler system from the city main failed to hold pressure.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
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Those underground punks went so hard that NBC was bombarded with complaints in real time, leading the network to cut away from the performance to a pre-recorded sketch.—
Shannon Carlin,
TIME,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Universal revealed character details for each of the film's leads, which can be read below: Academy Award® nominee Johansson plays skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, contracted to lead a skilledteam on a top-secret mission to secure the genetic material.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
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Johansson plays covert operations expert Zora Bennett, who leads the top-secret mission.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The top official of the Social Security Administration quit over the weekend after Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency sought access to sensitive records containing the private information of Americans, according to a source familiar with the dispute.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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The store also has a painting by artist A.R. Penck from Scheufele’s private collection, reflecting the company’s commitment to creativity.—
David Moin,
WWD,
18 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near backstairs
Cite this Entry
“Backstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstairs. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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