If you describe someone's behaviour as furtive, you disapprove of them behaving as if they want to keep something secret or hidden.
[disapproval]
With a furtive glance over her shoulder, she unlocked the door and entered the house.
Synonyms: sly, secret, hidden, sneaking More Synonyms of furtive
furtivelygraded adverb [usually ADVERB with verb, also ADVERB adjective]
He walked towards the summerhouse, at first furtively, then with more confidence.
furtive in British English
(ˈfɜːtɪv)
adjective
characterized by stealth; sly and secretive
Derived forms
furtively (ˈfurtively)
adverb
furtiveness (ˈfurtiveness)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin furtīvus stolen, clandestine, from furtum a theft, from fūr a thief; related to Greek phōr thief
furtive in American English
(ˈfɜrtɪv)
adjective
done or acting in a stealthy manner, as if to hinder observation; surreptitious; stealthy; sneaky
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈsecret
Derived forms
furtively (ˈfurtively)
adverb
furtiveness (ˈfurtiveness)
noun
Word origin
Fr furtif < L furtivus, stolen, hidden < furtum, theft < fur, a thief < IE *bhōr- (> Gr phōr) < base *bher-, to bear1: hence, orig., one who carries off
Examples of 'furtive' in a sentence
furtive
She cast furtive glances his way but generally stayed out of his reach.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
Others stole furtive glances at me out of the corner of their eyes.
Christianity Today (2000)
The source added that this did not suggest that their conversations were in any way furtive as a result.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The chimp is also furtive about his behaviour, almost as if he knows he is being sneaky.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
To try to make your son stop wearing women's clothes would only make the behaviour more furtive, stressed and unhappy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
furtive
British English: furtive ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone's behaviour as furtive, you disapprove of them behaving as if they want to keep something secret or hidden.
With a furtive glance over her shoulder, she unlocked the door and entered the house.
American English: furtive
Brazilian Portuguese: furtivo
Chinese: 鬼鬼祟祟的
European Spanish: furtivo
French: furtif
German: verstohlen
Italian: furtivo
Japanese: うさんくさい
Korean: 남의 이목을 꺼리는
European Portuguese: furtivo
Latin American Spanish: furtivo
Chinese translation of 'furtive'
furtive
(ˈfəːtɪv)
adj
[glance, manner]鬼鬼祟祟的 (guǐguǐsuìsuì de)
(adjective)
Definition
sly, cautious, and secretive
a furtive glance over her shoulder
Synonyms
sly
He is devious, sly and manipulative.
secret
I was heading on a secret mission that made my flesh crawl.
hidden
The den was hidden in the undergrowth.
sneaking
covert
They have been supplying covert military aid to the rebels.
cloaked
behind someone's back
secretive
He was very secretive about his plans.
clandestine
They are said to have been holding clandestine meetings for years.
sneaky
One kid can generally tell when another kid is sneaky.
under-the-table
slinking
conspiratorial
skulking
underhand
The Prime Minister had been involved in underhand financial deals.
surreptitious
They had several surreptitious conversations.
stealthy
It was a stealthy sound made by someone anxious not to be heard.
Opposites
open
,
public
,
frank
,
straightforward
,
candid
,
forthright
,
undisguised
,
above-board
,
unreserved
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clandestine
Definition
secret and concealed
They are said to have been holding clandestine meetings for years.
Synonyms
secret,
private,
hidden,
underground,
concealed,
closet,
covert,
sly,
furtive,
underhand,
surreptitious,
stealthy,
cloak-and-dagger,
under-the-counter
in the sense of covert
Definition
concealed or secret
They have been supplying covert military aid to the rebels.
Synonyms
secret,
private,
hidden,
disguised,
concealed,
veiled,
sly,
clandestine,
underhand,
unsuspected,
surreptitious,
stealthy
in the sense of hidden
Definition
difficult to find
The den was hidden in the undergrowth.
Synonyms
concealed,
covered,
secret,
covert,
unseen,
clandestine,
secreted,
under wraps,
unrevealed
Nearby words of
furtive
furtherance
furthermore
furthest
furtive
fury
fuse
fusillade
Synonyms of 'furtive'
furtive
Explore 'furtive' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of secret
Definition
operating without the knowledge of outsiders
I was heading on a secret mission that made my flesh crawl.
Synonyms
undercover,
covert,
furtive,
shrouded,
behind someone's back,
conspiratorial,
underhand,
hush-hush (informal),
surreptitious,
cloak-and-dagger,
backstairs
in the sense of secretive
Definition
hiding feelings and intentions
He was very secretive about his plans.
Synonyms
reticent,
reserved,
withdrawn,
close,
deep,
enigmatic,
cryptic,
cagey (informal),
uncommunicative,
unforthcoming,
tight-lipped,
playing your cards close to your chest,
clamlike
in the sense of sneaking
Definition
acting in a cowardly and furtive way
Synonyms
underhand,
mean,
sly,
sneaky,
furtive,
two-faced,
contemptible,
surreptitious
in the sense of sneaky
One kid can generally tell when another kid is sneaky.
Synonyms
sly,
dishonest,
devious,
mean,
low,
base,
nasty,
cowardly,
slippery,
unreliable,
malicious,
unscrupulous,
furtive,
disingenuous,
shifty (informal),
snide,
deceitful,
contemptible,
untrustworthy,
double-dealing
in the sense of stealthy
It was a stealthy sound made by someone anxious not to be heard.
Synonyms
secret,
secretive,
furtive,
sneaking,
covert,
sly,
clandestine,
sneaky,
skulking,
underhand,
surreptitious
in the sense of surreptitious
Definition
done in secret or without permission
They had several surreptitious conversations.
Synonyms
secret,
clandestine,
furtive,
sneaking,
veiled,
covert,
sly,
fraudulent,
unauthorized,
underhand,
stealthy
in the sense of underhand
Definition
sly, deceitful, and secretive
The Prime Minister had been involved in underhand financial deals.