Synonyms of surreptitious

surreptitious

adjective

ˌsər-əp-ˈti-shəs 

as in clandestine

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others

a private investigator adept at taking surreptitious pictures of adulterous couples

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clandestine
• covert
• sneak
• undercover
• underground
• private
• sneaking
• stealth
• furtive
• sneaky
• stealthy
• secret
• underhanded
• behind-the-scenes
• underhand
• hole-and-corner
• privy
• backstairs
• undisclosed
• hush-hush
• confidential
• hugger-mugger
• off-the-record
• closed-door
• off-the-books
• hidden
• restricted
• classified
• secreted
• concealed
• subterranean
• back-channel
• top secret
• unexposed
• unadvertised

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• public
• overt
• open
• avowed
• acknowledged
• straightforward
• unrestricted
• obvious
• unclassified
• undisguised
• unconcealed
• evident
• clear
• manifest
• plain
• aboveboard
• patent

Synonym Chooser

How is the word surreptitious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of surreptitious are clandestine, covert, furtive, secret, stealthy, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority.

the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

When would clandestine be a good substitute for surreptitious?

The synonyms clandestine and surreptitious are sometimes interchangeable, but clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

In what contexts can covert take the place of surreptitious?

While the synonyms covert and surreptitious are close in meaning, covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When might furtive be a better fit than surreptitious?

While in some cases nearly identical to surreptitious, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

Where would secret be a reasonable alternative to surreptitious?

The meanings of secret and surreptitious largely overlap; however, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When could stealthy be used to replace surreptitious?

The words stealthy and surreptitious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

When is underhanded a more appropriate choice than surreptitious?

The words underhanded and surreptitious can be used in similar contexts, but underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of surreptitious

And there are plenty of other athletes who have sought to gain a slight edge, surreptitious or otherwise, through their own ingenuity. —Susan Baek, NBC News, 9 Aug. 2024

Misty was a friendless creep, hence her surreptitious dismantling of the plane’s black box to prolong her adventure with the popular girls and her beloved coach. —Judy Berman, TIME, 2 Oct. 2024

But in a world of mostly unregulated data collection (at least in the U.S.) and AI processing power, brands may be tweaking prices in more surreptitious ways that are much harder to get around. —Webb Wright, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2024

The woman abandoned her surreptitious approach and held up her cell phone, taking a video for at least ten minutes—the whole route to the Globus complex, and the path into the quiet harbor behind it. —Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024