FURTIVE Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'furtive' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of furtive are clandestine , covert , secret , stealthy , surreptitious , and underhanded . While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness. // lovers exchanging furtive glances

Q: When would 'clandestine' be a good substitute for 'furtive'?

In some situations, the words clandestine and furtive are roughly equivalent. However, clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered. // a clandestine meeting of conspirators

Q: When could 'covert' be used to replace 'furtive'?

The words covert and furtive can be used in similar contexts, but covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared. // covert intelligence operations

Q: When is 'secret' a more appropriate choice than 'furtive'?

While in some cases nearly identical to furtive , secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive. // met at a secret location

Q: When can 'stealthy' be used instead of 'furtive'?

While the synonyms stealthy and furtive are close in meaning, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing. // the stealthy step of a burglar

Q: In what contexts can 'surreptitious' take the place of 'furtive'?

Although the words surreptitious and furtive have much in common, 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

Q: When might 'underhanded' be a better fit than 'furtive'?

The words underhanded and furtive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, underhanded stresses fraud or deception. // an underhanded trick

furtive

adjective

ˈfər-tiv

Definition of furtive

as in shady

given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions a furtive guy who always seems to be up to something, and usually that something is no-good

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in clandestine

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others gave each other furtive glances as we watched our friend open the booby-trapped soda

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word furtive distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of furtive are clandestine, covert, secret, stealthy, surreptitious, and underhanded. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

When would clandestine be a good substitute for furtive?

In some situations, the words clandestine and furtive are roughly equivalent. However, 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 could covert be used to replace furtive?

The words covert and furtive can be used in similar contexts, but covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When is secret a more appropriate choice than furtive?

While in some cases nearly identical to furtive, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When can stealthy be used instead of furtive?

While the synonyms stealthy and furtive are close in meaning, stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

In what contexts can surreptitious take the place of furtive?

Although the words surreptitious and furtive have much in common, 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 might underhanded be a better fit than furtive?

The words underhanded and furtive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 furtive Of course, the modern, rapidly changing technological means of war, being vastly more versatile, fast, furtive, precise, numerous, farther reaching and lethal, will necessitate revisiting the principles of just wars. — Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2026 Nemes does not give us any time to figure out who’s who and, really, what’s happening, but watching all this furtive tradecraft is compelling enough. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 That’s where Klaus Mann (August Diehl), Thomas’ homosexual Communist son, would end up taking his own life, but a furtive phone call between twin brother and sister reveals both their closeness as well as the fractures in a broken family dynamic. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 May 2026 Some with furtive glances, some outright staring. — Ben Mezrich, Vanity Fair, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for furtive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for furtive

Adjective

But for now, CyberLeek is trying to monetize the GTA 6 leaks by asking for shady donations.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Others sat in shady spots on Montrose Avenue where the parade units combined with waiting community groups to end the parade at the festival grounds.

— Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of shady

Adjective

Or that the Apollo moon landing in 1969 was staged, the video shot on some clandestine movie set.

— Susan Page, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
The clandestine manner in which LG monitors were installing ad-pushing software onto third-party devices, however, remains seriously concerning.

— Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of clandestine

Adjective

Both shows make use of the parody defense, of course, that being the sly way for comedic artists to cash in on someone else’s intellectual property by insisting that their motives are honorably satirical.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
But it was filled with quicksilver, roller-coaster displays of virtuosity and the sly humor Lutoslawski and fellow Polish composer and pianist Andrzej Panufnik brought to their Paganini variations in its original 1941 iteration.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of sly

Adjective

Over the last decade, covert tests have revealed vulnerabilities at security checkpoints, with one in 2015 showing a nearly 96% failure rate at screening fake explosives.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
The film imagines a colorful, family-friendly realm concealed just under the surface of video games themselves, populated by a covert guild of guardians tasked with keeping each title operating and preserving every player’s journey.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of covert

Adjective

And as the rapturous applause and screaming showed, such stealthy-chic designs, with small details and a sharp silhouette, still have maximum impact.

— Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026
The only quiet thing about it is the stealthy way that the tournament has advanced upon its rivals in the global mega-event category.

— Ben Ryder Howe, Curbed, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of stealthy

Adjective

And in 1963, Steinem gained national attention for going undercover at one of Hugh Hefner's nightclubs.

— Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
The rest of the officers at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office who were part of setting this undercover operation up and didn’t listen owe the officer an apology.

— Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of undercover

Adjective

That said, the researchers see the 32% average higher spend as a clear outcome and an opportunity for retailers, whether the extra spending was driven by sneaky nudging or by AI helping consumers shop smarter.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
This recipe has a few sneaky tricks that Grandma loves to keep secret.

— Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of sneaky

Adjective

The United States conducted its first-ever underground nuclear test, dubbed the Rainier test, at the Nevada Test Site.

— USA Today, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Premee Mohamed, Wickhills (Tor Books, September 8) A fantastical spy thriller set on the streets and underground passages of a magical city?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of underground

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“Furtive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furtive. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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