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Definitions

secretly

[see-krit-lee] / ˈsi krɪt li /
ADVERB
in hidden manner
Synonyms
STRONGEST
clandestinely covertly furtively personally privately quietly stealthily surreptitiously
WEAK
behind closed doors behind someone's back by stealth confidentially hush-hush in camera in confidence in holes and corners in secret in strict confidence insidiously intimately obscurely on the Q.T. on the quiet on the sly privily slyly sub-rosa under the table underhandedly unobserved
Antonyms
STRONGEST
publicly
WEAK
openly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One woman from Adusah's church - who later gave a statement to UK police - said Charmain had secretly obtained a second phone because Adusah had confiscated her main one.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Harrison is not so secretly one of the funnier people I know.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Google last year identified more than 10 million Android devices that came with Ipidea’s residential proxy software secretly pre-installed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

She played Miley Stewart, a normal high-school student who secretly performed as Hannah Montana, and episodes focused on her navigating her daily life while keeping her secret from her classmates.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

At the time, I never thought I would, but it was as if Ms. Holly could read my mind and knew that I was secretly wishing I had the guts to do it all along.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan