clandestine

adjective

clan·des·tine klan-ˈde-stən How to pronounce clandestine (audio)

also -ˌstīn or -ˌstēn,

or ˈklan-də-

: marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy : surreptitious

a clandestine love affair

clandestinely adverb

clandestineness noun

clandestinity

ˌklan-də-ˈsti-nə-tē How to pronounce clandestine (audio)

-de-ˈsti-

noun

Example Sentences

The clandestine meetings, the passing back and forth of messages between Lodge and the plotters, the coaxing along of the generals, all had the emotional lift of a strong amphetamine.

Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988 The CIA's great innovation has been to concentrate in peacetime on 'covert action'—that is, the use of clandestine means to challenge policies and regimes in other countries.

Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986 And Pym was in London for a conference—no, he wasn't, he was attending a three-day course on the latest methods of clandestine communication in a beastly little training house off Smith Square.

John le Carré, A Perfect Spy, 1986 I took a clandestine peek at the price tag on the diamond necklace.

Recent Examples on the Web The divide over the Iran nuclear deal runs roughly between the Israel Defense Forces and its intelligence wing, and the Mossad, the spy agency responsible for collection of intelligence and clandestine operations outside the country’s borders.

New York Times, 14 July 2022 The parking lot was nearly empty, and if the encounter felt clandestine, their thoughtfulness was out in the open.

Thomas Curwenstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022 European officials and diplomats said the two countries are prepared for hybrid or clandestine attacks.

Emily Rauhala And Michael Birnbaum, BostonGlobe.com, 18 May 2022 Research showed Damen was baptized in 1815 in a clandestine church because being Catholic in Holland at the time was something people didn’t admit to out in the open, Skerrett said.

Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 The list also underscores what Justice Department officials have described as concerns that the highly sensitive information, including some derived from clandestine human-intelligence sources, was commingled with other items and insecurely stored.

Sadie Gurman, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 The electricity of the unknown and the clandestine feel of an early-morning launch were gloriously adolescent.

Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 28 Aug. 2022 A few days later, clandestine Ukrainian fighters operating behind enemy lines hit several sites in the occupied territory that Russia had thought were safe, including ammunition depots and supply lines.

Eric Schmitt, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 Markings indicated that some of the documents included information that had come from clandestine human sources and electronic eavesdropping—the most sensitive methods used by American intelligence agencies to collect information.

David Rohde, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 See More

clandestine

adjective

as in covert

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others I took a clandestine peek at the price tag on the diamond necklace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of clandestine are covert, furtive, secret, stealthy, surreptitious, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

The words covert and clandestine can be used in similar contexts, but covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

While the synonyms furtive and clandestine are close in meaning, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

In some situations, the words secret and clandestine are roughly equivalent. However, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

Although the words stealthy and clandestine have much in common, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

The meanings of surreptitious and clandestine largely overlap; however, 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

While in some cases nearly identical to clandestine, underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

单词	clandestine
释义	clandestine adjective clan·des·tine klan-ˈde-stən also -ˌstīn or -ˌstēn, or ˈklan-də- : marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy : surreptitious a clandestine love affair clandestinely adverb clandestineness noun clandestinity ˌklan-də-ˈsti-nə-tē -de-ˈsti- noun Did you know? In 1658, the English poet John Milton wrote of "clandestine Hostility cover'd over with the name of Peace." Today, clandestine is used in much the same way. The word often substitutes for secret and covert, and it is commonly applied to actions that involve secrecy maintained for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose. It comes to English by way of Middle French, from Latin clandestinus, which is itself from Latin clam, meaning "secretly." Synonyms backstairs behind-the-scenes covert furtive hole-and-corner hugger-mugger hush-hush private privy secret sneak sneaking sneaky stealth stealthy surreptitious undercover underground underhand underhanded See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The clandestine meetings, the passing back and forth of messages between Lodge and the plotters, the coaxing along of the generals, all had the emotional lift of a strong amphetamine. Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988 The CIA's great innovation has been to concentrate in peacetime on 'covert action'—that is, the use of clandestine means to challenge policies and regimes in other countries. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986 And Pym was in London for a conference—no, he wasn't, he was attending a three-day course on the latest methods of clandestine communication in a beastly little training house off Smith Square. John le Carré, A Perfect Spy, 1986 I took a clandestine peek at the price tag on the diamond necklace. Recent Examples on the Web The divide over the Iran nuclear deal runs roughly between the Israel Defense Forces and its intelligence wing, and the Mossad, the spy agency responsible for collection of intelligence and clandestine operations outside the country’s borders. New York Times, 14 July 2022 The parking lot was nearly empty, and if the encounter felt clandestine, their thoughtfulness was out in the open. Thomas Curwenstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022 European officials and diplomats said the two countries are prepared for hybrid or clandestine attacks. Emily Rauhala And Michael Birnbaum, BostonGlobe.com, 18 May 2022 Research showed Damen was baptized in 1815 in a clandestine church because being Catholic in Holland at the time was something people didn’t admit to out in the open, Skerrett said. Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 The list also underscores what Justice Department officials have described as concerns that the highly sensitive information, including some derived from clandestine human-intelligence sources, was commingled with other items and insecurely stored. Sadie Gurman, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 The electricity of the unknown and the clandestine feel of an early-morning launch were gloriously adolescent. Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 28 Aug. 2022 A few days later, clandestine Ukrainian fighters operating behind enemy lines hit several sites in the occupied territory that Russia had thought were safe, including ammunition depots and supply lines. Eric Schmitt, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 Markings indicated that some of the documents included information that had come from clandestine human sources and electronic eavesdropping—the most sensitive methods used by American intelligence agencies to collect information. David Rohde, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle French or Latin; Middle French clandestin, from Latin clandestinus, from clam secretly; akin to Latin celare to hide — more at hell First Known Use circa 1528, in the meaning defined above clandestine adjective as in covert undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others I took a clandestine peek at the price tag on the diamond necklace Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance covert undercover underground sneak private surreptitious sneaking stealth furtive secret backstairs stealthy sneaky hole-and-corner underhanded underhand undisclosed hush-hush privy hidden off-the-books confidential classified subterranean hugger-mugger behind-the-scenes restricted concealed secreted closed-door off-the-record back-channel top secret unexposed unadvertised Antonyms & Near Antonyms public overt open avowed unclassified unrestricted acknowledged straightforward unconcealed undisguised obvious evident clear plain manifest aboveboard patent See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of clandestine are covert, furtive, secret, stealthy, surreptitious, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered. a clandestine meeting of conspirators The words covert and clandestine can be used in similar contexts, but covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared. covert intelligence operations While the synonyms furtive and clandestine are close in meaning, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness. lovers exchanging furtive glances In some situations, the words secret and clandestine are roughly equivalent. However, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive. met at a secret location Although the words stealthy and clandestine have much in common, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing. the stealthy step of a burglar The meanings of surreptitious and clandestine largely overlap; however, 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 While in some cases nearly identical to clandestine, underhanded stresses fraud or deception. an underhanded trick
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clandestine

adjective

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

adjective

Synonym Chooser