secretive
adjective
Synonyms
- close
- closemouthed
- dark
- reticent
- tight-mouthed
- uncommunicative
Example Sentences
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2022 Even some key figures in Al Qaeda’s central leadership were put off, calling him overly controlling, secretive, and divisive. Matthew Lee, Nomaan Merchant, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Aug. 2022 The ever-secretive Marvel Studios probably won’t reveal much more until the film’s premiere on July 8. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 18 Apr. 2022 The long-secretive monarchy faces struggles similar to those of other leaders and celebrities who face a voracious appetite for details on their personal lives and health status. Fox News, 23 Oct. 2021 The long-secretive monarchy faces struggles similar to those of other leaders and celebrities who face a voracious appetite for details on their personal lives and health status. Danica Kirka, ajc, 22 Oct. 2021 Netflix is notoriously secretive about its data, not sharing viewership stats even with show makers. David Doty, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Vietnam is famously secretive about its use of capital punishment. Heather Chen, CNN, 27 May 2022 Children are often secretive about suicidal impulses; parents are often in denial. Andrew Solomon, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
back-formation from secretiveness, partial translation of French secrétivité
1835, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
secretive
adjective
secretive
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- silent
- uncommunicative
- quiet
- reticent
- closemouthed
- dark
- close
- discreet
- taciturn
- prudent
- clandestine
- tight-lipped
- reserved
- secret
- tight-mouthed
- furtive
- sneaky
- stealthy
- surreptitious
- covert
- underhanded
- undercover
- underhand
- sneak
- hugger-mugger
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- open
- communicative
- candid
- honest
- outspoken
- frank
- tactless
- blunt
- up-front
- out-front
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of secretive are reserved, reticent, silent, and taciturn. While all these words mean "showing restraint in speaking," secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal.
While in some cases nearly identical to secretive, reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.
The words reticent and secretive can be used in similar contexts, but reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.
The meanings of silent and secretive largely overlap; however, silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.
The synonyms taciturn and secretive are sometimes interchangeable, but taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.