1
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions
a furtive guy who always seems to be up to something, and usually that something is no-good
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
gave each other furtive glances as we watched our friend open the booby-trapped soda
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of furtive
Some with furtive glances, some outright staring.
—
Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
The military can be more furtive about its movements ahead of an operation, taking steps to hide aircraft from detection.
—Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Focusing only on gains also says nothing about the nature of the journeys taken, the process travelers use to convert furtive motion into self-reinvention, and the places that assist or block these quests.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
One of Austin’s best taquerias is moving from its furtive spot in a downtown alley to one of the most famous streets in the city.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for furtive
Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026
The military can be more furtive about its movements ahead of an operation, taking steps to hide aircraft from detection.
—Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Focusing only on gains also says nothing about the nature of the journeys taken, the process travelers use to convert furtive motion into self-reinvention, and the places that assist or block these quests.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
One of Austin’s best taquerias is moving from its furtive spot in a downtown alley to one of the most famous streets in the city.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for furtive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furtive
Adjective
-
Although some mushrooms tolerate sun, mushrooms are more likely to sprout in shady spots with lots of overhanging trees and brush.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
16 June 2026
-
However, if the area is shady and soggy, a groundcover may be the best choice if drainage issues cannot be remedied.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Some may be announced publicly; others may happen in more clandestine ways.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
-
But clandestine flows aren’t the biggest factor behind the market calm.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
The fierce woman who always wore black, who could light up a room with her sly jokes and smoky laughter, grew quieter and more fragile after losing her lover.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
-
But the plot is just a loose framework for the film’s real appeal, which is its sly sense of fun, fabulous costumes, and genius use of its limited indie resources.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Get Ready: Katy Perry Has Released a Sneak Peek of Her New Song And the internet has receipts.—
Mehera Bonner,
Marie Claire,
15 Mar. 2017
Adjective
-
Soldiers may soon be doing a bit less pack hauling as the US Department of Defense taps American Rheinmetall and Harbinger to develop a new generation of stealthy, inexpensive, and expendable robotic trucks designed to carry cargo to the battlefield.—
David Szondy
June 03,
New Atlas,
3 June 2026
-
The Avalanches have shared their second single since launching a stealthy teaser campaign earlier this year.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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The film follows cybersecurity expert Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor), who lifts secret files about the existence of aliens from Wardex, a covert non-government organization that used to employ him.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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The investigation also linked the activity to China based on IP addresses associated with a LinkedIn account and a Gmail account tied to the covert recruitment scheme.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Here’s a look at the odds, storylines and best bets from our staff for Saturday’s World Cup action, which includes the sneaky good meeting between Brazil and Morocco.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
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With Liverpool rumors getting loud, a big summer — and a sneaky Norge run — could get the biggest clubs in the game involved in the bidding.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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In 2005, an undercover investigator from the FDA called the farm and was told the milk was safe for human consumption.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Following a months-long undercover operation, in which a female officer posed as a romantic interest to extract information, Stagg was taken into custody, per The Guardian.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Furtive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furtive. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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