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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of furtive
On that furtive call with Reacher, Duffy tells him the pickup truck and the Audi Richard Beck’s bodyguard were driving in the same police lot.
—
Chris Klimek, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
Despite fluorescent lights, the space felt furtive.
—Hazlitt, 5 Mar. 2025
Hviid has more of a feel for furtive, vaguely unsavory atmospherics and escalating editorial suspense than for maximizing action within memorable set-pieces.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
Over the past decade, furtive commercial entities around the world have industrialized the production, sale, and dissemination of bogus scholarly research.
—Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for furtive
Chris Klimek, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
Despite fluorescent lights, the space felt furtive.
—Hazlitt, 5 Mar. 2025
Hviid has more of a feel for furtive, vaguely unsavory atmospherics and escalating editorial suspense than for maximizing action within memorable set-pieces.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
Over the past decade, furtive commercial entities around the world have industrialized the production, sale, and dissemination of bogus scholarly research.
—Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for furtive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furtive
Adjective
-
It’s implied that before going into construction, Levon had brought his military training into civilian life in some shady (though likely heroic) capacity or another — maybe even kidnap recovery.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2025
-
During a recent conversation with legendary radio host Big Boy, the 26-year-old spoke about her haters and shady tension that led to this notion.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
After authorities responded with mass arrests, weavers formed clandestine committees and took secret oaths.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Til Schweiger plays a sardonic whale-tourism boat captain (and former elite military operative, obviously) who gets roped into taking down a clandestine organization that’s building the perfect super-soldier through genetic experiments.—
Jordan Crucchiola,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Each plays a role in fooling their foe, who captures the turtle, while the deer, heeding the turtle’s good counsel, manages a sly escape.—
John Nemec,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Here are six real books coming out this week, with dust jackets that reflect their real contents: mysteries and mishaps, often told with a sly smirk.—
Colin Dwyer,
NPR,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Leveraging Tools That Detect Abnormal Identity Behavior Despite excellent policies, organizations are still vulnerable to stealthy tactics without the right tech.—
Galit Lubetzky,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
This was not the first time the U.S. Navy has sent a stealthy Zumwalt-class vessel to the west of the International Date Line.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Then Gungnir covert sniper rifle seems like a bargain, relatively speaking, at just $12,867.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
In the letter, Grassley wrote that the records would help shine a light on the Nazi planning of the covert escape routes.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Kyle and Kamilla are back at it With nary an ally in sight, the butt doctor seemed like a goner, but Kyle and Kamilla were up to their sneaky tricks again.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
In addition to creating faux freckles, they can be used as a sneaky acne cover-up.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Alan Ritchson says Reacher is the American James Bond Reacher works with DEA agents Susan Duffy (Cassidy) and Guillermo Villanueva (Roberto Montesinos) to go undercover in the rug-importing front, which is led by businessman Zachary Beck (Hall).—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
1 Apr. 2025
-
To investigate further, the DEA had five undercover officers visit his clinic to see whether Hollington would prescribe them medications without legit medical reasons between February and July 2022, prosecutors said.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
That blandness has gone hand in hand with a shifty political opportunism, marked by half-hearted representational milestones—Ariel is Black!—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The shifty guard snaked his way into the lane and knocked down a floater over the outstretched arms of Florida’s 6-9 forward Thomas Haugh a few minutes later.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Furtive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furtive. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share