secret

1. adjective

1)

a secret plan

Syn:

confidential, top secret, classified, undisclosed, unknown, private, under wraps; informal hush-hush; formal sub rosa

Ant:

public, known

2)

a secret drawer in the table

Syn:

hidden, concealed, disguised; invisible

Ant:

visible

3)

a secret operation to infiltrate terrorist groups

Syn:

clandestine, covert, undercover, underground, surreptitious, stealthy, furtive, cloak-and-dagger, hole-and-corner, closet; informal hush-hush

Ant:

overt

4)

a secret message

a secret code

Syn:

cryptic, encoded, coded; mysterious, abstruse, recondite, arcane, esoteric, Kabbalistic

Ant:

open

5)

a secret place

Syn:

secluded, private, concealed, hidden, unfrequented, out of the way, tucked away

Ant:

public, known about

6)

a very secret person

See secretive

2. noun

1)

he just can't keep a secret

Syn:

confidential matter, confidence, private affair; skeleton in the closet

2)

the secrets of the universe

Syn:

mystery, enigma, paradox, puzzle, conundrum, poser, riddle

3)

the secret of their success

Syn:

recipe, (magic) formula, blueprint, key, answer, solution

•

- in secret

••

secret, clandestine, covert, furtive, stealthy, surreptitious, underhanded

While all of these adjectives describe an attempt to do something without attracting attention or observation, secret is the most general term, implying that something is being concealed or kept from the knowledge of others (a secret pact; a secret passageway). Covert suggests that something is being done under cover, or concealed as if with a veil or disguise (a covert attack; a covert threat), while clandestine suggests that something illicit or immoral is being concealed (a clandestine meeting between the two lovers). Someone who is deliberately sneaking around and trying to do something without attracting notice is best described as stealthy (the cat moved toward the bird with a slow, stealthy pace), and furtive connotes even more slyness and watchfulness, as revealed not only by movements but by facial expressions (a furtive glance; a furtive movement toward the door). Surreptitious connotes guilt on the part of the individual who is acting in a stealthy or furtive manner (a surreptitious attempt to hide the book before it was noticed). Underhanded is the strongest of these words, implying fraud, deceit, or unfairness (underhanded business dealings).