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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The illicitly mined resources, which included valuable minerals and precious stones, were smuggled out of the country through clandestine networks, bypassing official regulatory controls for the benefit of consortium members at the expense of the state coffers.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
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For those hoping to wed immediately, whether to avoid family scrutiny or cover up an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, clandestine marriages performed by Anglican clergy offered a welcome alternative.—
Alexandra Cox,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Watch Captain America: Civil War on Disney+ Black Widow After the events of Captain America: Civil War, Natasha is on the run and reunites with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), her undercover younger sister who also trained in the Red Room.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
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The vast majority of undercover U.S. intelligence officers work out of embassies and consulates, posing as diplomats, and the closure of diplomatic posts would reduce the CIA's options for where to position its spies.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The commuter hall is reminiscent of that of the original station, complete with high ceilings, iron and glass entrances, and a replica of the original clock; it would be connected within the James A. Farley Post Office via an underground tunnel to Moynihan Train Hall.—
Francesca Aton,
ARTnews.com,
13 Mar. 2025
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But where Sematary drew inspiration from underground rap, Ghost Mountain’s earliest obsessions were indie bands like Modest Mouse and the Unicorns, whose anxious songs and caterwauling vocals struck a chord somewhere between naive and degenerate.—
Meaghan Garvey,
Pitchfork,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Despite numerous warnings, Cuomo ignored engineers’ concerns, went ahead with construction, and attempted to cover it up by secretly replacing the defective bolts in a covert night operation akin to military action.—
Ryan Silverstein,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2025
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Even a covert leader can inadvertently alter employee behavior, resulting in a skewed view of daily operations.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Moreover, private innovative businesses cannot thrive or even survive for long without basic research at universities.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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The appearance came 11 days after Parton's famously private husband died in his hometown of Nashville after the couple were married nearly 60 years.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backstairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstairs. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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