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
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Recent Examples of clandestine
The Square, from South Korean director Bo-Sol Kim, which blends political commentary with experimental animation in its story of a Swedish diplomat in Pyongyang who begins a clandestine affair with a local traffic officer, took the jury prize of the Contrechamps section.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alcala — without school authorization — took wrestling mats from El Modena, had the wrestling team load them into a U-Haul truck, and then took them to a warehouse for clandestine practices, Plaintiff Two said.
—Scott Schwebke, Oc Register, 13 June 2025
The reallocation comes as Russia pounds Ukraine with its drone offensive and after Ukraine struck deep inside Russia with its own drones last week, shocking Russia in a clandestine operation.
—Chris Boccia, ABC News, 9 June 2025
The roar of the Thunderbirds filled the sky Saturday over Beale Air Force Base, long known for the more clandestine surveillance and recon missions of the U.S. Air Force.
—Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for clandestine
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alcala — without school authorization — took wrestling mats from El Modena, had the wrestling team load them into a U-Haul truck, and then took them to a warehouse for clandestine practices, Plaintiff Two said.
—Scott Schwebke, Oc Register, 13 June 2025
The reallocation comes as Russia pounds Ukraine with its drone offensive and after Ukraine struck deep inside Russia with its own drones last week, shocking Russia in a clandestine operation.
—Chris Boccia, ABC News, 9 June 2025
The roar of the Thunderbirds filled the sky Saturday over Beale Air Force Base, long known for the more clandestine surveillance and recon missions of the U.S. Air Force.
—Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for clandestine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clandestine
Adjective
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On June 24, undercover agents attempted to purchase fireworks from Pan.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
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Conan Edogawa and Detective Kogoro Mouri join the Nagano prefectural police to investigate a break-in at the observatory while uncovering a deeper plot involving undercover agents, betrayal, and vengeance.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Now, after Operation Midnight Hammer, arguably one of the most perfect covert military operations in U.S. history, who could argue? Even Trump’s most ardent critics had to give him credit.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2025
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The show has spent its entire fourth season tiptoeing around Sydney’s covert job offer, Carmy’s partnership alterations, and whatever was going on inside Richie’s GoFastBoatsMojito brain, but in one big, 30-odd-minute bottle episode, it’s all been laid on the table.—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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This ambitious project is powered by an army of 432 small robots that are moving the massive structure about 33 feet each day to make way for a new underground development.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
29 June 2025
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Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his cabinet directed the British war effort during World War II from this secret underground complex.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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The recent acquisition of 80% of its operating business by one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious private equity firms, PAI Partners, values the brand at $3.6 billion.—
Katharina Kotrba,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Robyn and John Horn of Little Rock have donated 105 works of art from their private collection to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the art center’s executive director announced Monday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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There’s nothing surreptitious about my administration.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2025
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Reporters from around the country followed the case, which marked the first time ever that prosecutors would play for a jury a surreptitious FBI recording of mob soldiers taking the oath of omerta during a mafia initiation ceremony.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clandestine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clandestine. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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