SECRETLY Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

secretly

adverb

Definition of secretly

as in privately

in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others the girl secretly told her friends about the birthday party so it would be a surprise to the birthday girl

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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 secretly Moscow has also been secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles, the Financial Times reported. — Peter Weber, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026 In 2008, a stalker had been following Andrews and secretly filming her through hotel room peepholes. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from 22 states are suing Amazon, alleging that the tech giant secretly inflated the prices businesses paid to advertise products on its platforms. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 The April indictment accused the organization of secretly funneling millions of dollars in donor funds to informants embedded in violent extremist movements, using bank accounts opened for fictitious companies. — Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 Set in 1964 and based on a true story, the film tells the tale of a young journalist who tracks down a potential Nazi officer living secretly in New York and befriends the suspect’s charming wife. — John Hopewell, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 Florian Zeller’s Bunker, also starring Stephen Graham, Paul Dano and Patrick Schwarzenegger, follows a renowned architect offered the chance to secretly design a survival bunker for a billionaire who is convinced that the end of the world is near. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 Buchanan secretly pressed the Court to take the divisive issue out of politicians’ hands. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 The Housewife, directed by Ben Shirinian and written by Alyssa Hill, is based on a true story and set in 1964, when a young journalist who tracks down a potential Nazi officer living secretly in New York and befriends the suspect’s charming wife. — Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for secretly

Adverb

The individual feedback goes to the person first, privately, the way a coach talks to an athlete between plays.

— Vivek Thomas, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
People close to Newsom privately speculated that the culprit might be a foreign power looking to undermine the California governor’s seemingly inevitable 2028 presidential campaign.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of privately

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secretiveness

secretly

secrets

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“Secretly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secretly. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of secretly

adverb

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