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as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
an undercover operation to infiltrate the terrorist organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
within the city was a well-organized fifth column, and these undercovers would make themselves known as soon as the invading forces breached the city limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in underground
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of undercover
Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025
At least seven times, he was placed on a special list compiled to weed out and flag problem police officers, the Miami Herald reported in a 1997 investigation on undercover police.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2023
The hook for his inexcusably overlong gangster picture sends an informant undercover into the ranks of his brother’s crew of soccer hooligans to snitch him free of drug-dealing charges.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for undercover 
Adjective
In January of 2015, the lead undercover agent in the investigation went to Montreal to meet with a man named Philipos Kollaros, who, according to court records, had ties to El Chapo.
—Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025
At least seven times, he was placed on a special list compiled to weed out and flag problem police officers, the Miami Herald reported in a 1997 investigation on undercover police.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
Ideally, sufficient background has been done on the suspect and there is a surveillance plan in place so that other deputies besides the undercovers are monitoring the location where the sting occurs.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2023
The hook for his inexcusably overlong gangster picture sends an informant undercover into the ranks of his brother’s crew of soccer hooligans to snitch him free of drug-dealing charges.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for undercover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undercover
Adjective
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The rocket's upper stage, meanwhile, continued carrying its clandestine satellites to orbit.Mike Wall, Space.com, 10 Jan. 2025
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That looks set to continue with a new play from the veteran dramatist Howard Brenton set in 1942 and telling of a clandestine meeting at the Kremlin between Churchill and Stalin.Matt Wolf, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For many Black southerners, the end of Jim Crow marked the beginning of covert discrimination—systems that, on their surface, signaled progress but kept discriminatory power dynamics in place.Essence, Essence, 13 Jan. 2025
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Read: What Europe fears The Eagle S, however, apparently had a covert military purpose as well: Investigators discovered that the vessel was crammed full of advanced surveillance equipment, which used so much power that the ship suffered from periodic blackouts.Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The 10 best books of December include a spy novel, essays by physicist Alan Lightman, and a group biography of four women scientists in Nazi Germany.Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Jan. 2025
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First built to carry cruise missiles, it had since been refurbished as a super-secret underwater spy ship.David Szondy, New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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But all of these puzzle pieces eventually came together with the help of a central tunnel and steep stairs leading underground (inspired by the subway in Washington, D.C.).Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2025
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Many male miners working underground joined the military early in the war and, in the last year, others were conscripted.Michael Robinson Chávez, NPR, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Packing cubes are many travelers’ secret weapon for maximizing space in suitcases and staying organized, and this backpack comes with two that fit perfectly inside.Miles Walls, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2025
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After the completion of renovation work, this exclusive secret passage for VIPs has been reopened to the public.David Morgan, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Several Yemeni al-Qaeda operatives failed to get visas to the U.S. because they were viewed as potential economic migrants, McDermott and Meyer write.Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
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The reality series sends a group of celebrities to undergo training with former Special Forces operatives.Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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These fleeting possible exceptions aside, Underwood has kept her views on politics and virtually all hot-button issues private.Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025
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However, as the leading crypto gains in notoriety, more entities, such as public or private companies, are emerging as identifiable holders.Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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By Kent Page Education is one of the most powerful agents of change in the world.UNICEF USA, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
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Celebrity real estate agent Jason Oppenheim is offering his services to help those who have been displaced by the deadly Los Angeles wildfires.Charna Flam, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near undercover
Cite this Entry
“Undercover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undercover. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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