BEHIND-THE-SCENES Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

behind-the-scenes

adjective

bi-ˈhīnd-ṯẖə-ˈsēnz

Definition of behind-the-scenes

as in confidential

not known or meant to be known by the general populace a tell-all book about the behind-the-scenes negotiations that got him the vice presidential nomination

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in clandestine

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others behind-the-scenes negotiations that resulted in the hostages being released unharmed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 behind-the-scenes And the Roos recently opened their doors to The Star for a behind-the-scenes look at the most successful program in school history. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026 The panel was an event for NYCC press and professional badge-holders and offered a behind-the-scenes look at how Universal Studios Group identifies promising IP, partners with creators and shepherds adaptations through the development process. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 The disclosure offered a rare glimpse into the intelligence connections of two long-time behind-the-scenes-operators, whose relationships with figures tied to the conspiracy are emerging as a focus of Sanon’s defense. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 NBC‘s upcoming sitcom Newlyweds, starring Tèa Leoni and Tim Daly and featuring Jamie Lee Curtis, is undergoing a behind-the-scenes shakeup. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for behind-the-scenes

Recent Examples of Synonyms for behind-the-scenes

Adjective

And a later district filing to the state acknowledged that more than 500 people who worked for district contractors likely had Social Security numbers and other confidential information exposed.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Ziccarelli said that Cochran claimed the charges were withdrawn because the defendant was working as a confidential informant.

— Mike Darnay, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of confidential

Adjective

Bridgers’ tour restricts phones, so the reader’s account had to stand in for the clandestine photo that might otherwise have accompanied the sighting.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
The Soviet Union operated an extensive clandestine biological weapons program despite being a party to the Biological Weapons Convention.

— Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of clandestine

Adjective

Perhaps that doubt is the secret melancholy at the heart of even their most seemingly celebratory songs.

— Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
On Monday, a court granted the US government’s request to deny release of a former OpenAI engineer accused of bugging a top-secret conference room to steal the frontier lab’s secrets.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of secret

Adjective

The show revolved around Crockett and Tubbs, two undercover detectives infiltrating South Florida’s criminal underworld.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
At its center is a youngish man named Bob Arctor, an undercover cop who starts using drugs in order to infiltrate a house full of addicts in Southern California.

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of undercover

Adjective

This year has seen several notable incidents involving both overt and covert threats to undersea infrastructure, including Iranian efforts to impose fees on operators of undersea cables running through the contested Strait of Hormuz.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
From hippies to covert racists, psychedelics to cult-like workshop leaders, this is a world where any difference is still scrutinized and looked down on.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of covert

Adjective

Deep underground, iron-rich rocks could hold the key to producing hydrogen at a fraction of the cost of conventional fuels.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Oct. 2026
Additionally, the estate includes elevator service to all three floors, 25-yard lap pool, outdoor kitchen, veranda with stone fireplace and underground seven-car garage with Tesla charging station.

— Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of underground

Browse Nearby Words

behinds

behind-the-scenes

behold

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Behind-the-scenes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behind-the-scenes. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of behind-the-scenes

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes