1
: a cautious, unobtrusive, and secretive way of moving or proceeding intended to avoid detection
Makos, among the fastest of sharks, chase down their prey. Slower species … rely on stealth and explosive power.—
Steve Kemper
Steve KemperThe intricate labor … required courage and stealth.—Sue M. Halpern
Sue M. HalpernAs we walked closer we began treading with exaggerated stealth until we came very close …—Dorothy Dimsdale
Dorothy DimsdaleA thief does his work in secret and by stealth.—Harry Shaw
Harry Shaw2
: an aircraft-design characteristic consisting of oblique angular construction and avoidance of vertical surfaces that is intended to produce a very weak radar return
—usually used before another noun
a stealth bomber/fighter
stealth aircraft
stealth technology
3
a
archaic
: theft
b
obsolete
: something stolen
1
: intended not to attract attention : stealthy
a stealth campaign
… the company has operated in stealth mode until now.—Steve Silberman
Steve SilbermanHer team seemed to communicate with a secret stealth language …—E. L. Konigsburg
see also stealth entry 1 sense 2
E. L. Konigsburg2
medical
: involving or caused by an asymptomatic or presymptomatic infectious individual : silent sense 6b
stealth spread/transmission of a contagious disease
Synonyms
Examples of stealth in a Sentence
Noun
The fox uses stealth and cunning to hunt its prey.
Adjective
the SWAT team carried out a stealth raid on the house, which was believed to be harboring a terrorist cell
Recent Examples on the Web
Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
This solitary behavior is reflected in their hunting strategies, which often rely on stealth and patience rather than group coordination.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
Dozens of United States and Japanese military aircraft, including stealth fighter jets, held training around a strategic island near China last week, flexing the alliance's air power.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stealth 
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Noun
Ubisoft started development on Mirage as an expansion to Valhalla before turning it into a full game, which paid homage to the series' roots by focusing more on social stealth and parkour.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
This solitary behavior is reflected in their hunting strategies, which often rely on stealth and patience rather than group coordination.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The accident mirrors several similar crashes in recent years in which pilots were forced to eject from the stealth fighters.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
Dozens of United States and Japanese military aircraft, including stealth fighter jets, held training around a strategic island near China last week, flexing the alliance's air power.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stealth
Articles Related to stealth
Dictionary Entries Near stealth
Cite this Entry
“Stealth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stealth. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stealth
1 of 2 noun1
: sly or secret action
2
: a design style intended to make an aircraft difficult to detect by radar
stealth
2 of 2 adjective
: intended not to attract attention : stealthy sense 2
a stealth campaign
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