clandestine

adjective

klan-ˈde-stən How to pronounce clandestine (audio)
Definition of clandestinenext
as in undercover
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word clandestine distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

When is it sensible to use covert instead of clandestine?

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

When might furtive be a better fit than clandestine?

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

lovers exchanging furtive glances

Where would secret be a reasonable alternative to clandestine?

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

When can stealthy be used instead of clandestine?

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

When is surreptitious a more appropriate choice than clandestine?

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

When could underhanded be used to replace clandestine?

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

an underhanded trick

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clandestine Flying your favorite spacecraft is as simple as plopping down in the captain’s chair to engage in some hairy dogfights and clandestine patrols over strange worlds or the inky cosmic blackness as the gameplay shifts from a standard FPS to a third-person perspective. —Jeff Spry, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2025 Its executives have roots in the military as well as Lockheed Martin's clandestine Skunk Works. —Colin Demarest, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025 Between 2007 and 2023, the Mexican government counted nearly 6,000 clandestine graves, per the International Center for Transitional Justice. —Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025 Israel also ran a clandestine program that provided some funding and support for local rebels in a bid to ensure that more radical elements in Syria, including Islamic extremists, stayed away from the Israeli border. —Uriel Heilman, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clandestine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clandestine
  1. undercover
  2. covert
  3. underground
  4. private
  5. surreptitious
Adjective
  • Watch Captain America: Civil War on Disney+ Black Widow After the events of Captain America: Civil War, Natasha is on the run and reunites with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), her undercover younger sister who also trained in the Red Room.
    — Jacqueline Weiss, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The vast majority of undercover U.S. intelligence officers work out of embassies and consulates, posing as diplomats, and the closure of diplomatic posts would reduce the CIA's options for where to position its spies.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • Despite numerous warnings, Cuomo ignored engineers’ concerns, went ahead with construction, and attempted to cover it up by secretly replacing the defective bolts in a covert night operation akin to military action.
    — Ryan Silverstein, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Even a covert leader can inadvertently alter employee behavior, resulting in a skewed view of daily operations.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • The commuter hall is reminiscent of that of the original station, complete with high ceilings, iron and glass entrances, and a replica of the original clock; it would be connected within the James A. Farley Post Office via an underground tunnel to Moynihan Train Hall.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 13 Mar. 2025
  • But where Sematary drew inspiration from underground rap, Ghost Mountain’s earliest obsessions were indie bands like Modest Mouse and the Unicorns, whose anxious songs and caterwauling vocals struck a chord somewhere between naive and degenerate.
    — Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of underground
Adjective
  • Moreover, private innovative businesses cannot thrive or even survive for long without basic research at universities.
    — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The appearance came 11 days after Parton's famously private husband died in his hometown of Nashville after the couple were married nearly 60 years.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of private
Adjective
  • The department has been criticized for using surreptitious means to collect DNA, like grabbing a soda can used by a suspect after questioning.
    — Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
  • However, when intentions are left surreptitious, fashion can be used as a political weapon.
    — Chloe Iris Kennedy, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of surreptitious

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Cite this Entry

“Clandestine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clandestine. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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