as in secretly
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others
she confided to me privately that she was considering divorce
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Recent Examples of privately
While being held at Bridgewater State Hospital for psychiatric evaluation, DeSalvo was placed in the same ward as George Nassar, who later claimed DeSalvo had privately confessed to being the Boston Strangler.
—
Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Two Oaks privately funded the $260 million venue, which opened in 2021, but it is owned by the city.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The White House has defended the project, noting that it is being privately funded and that many presidents of the past have made alterations.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Before then, the 1,500-acre plot of land that would become the park was privately owned and used as a hunting preserve.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
The new line in California, Brightline West, will be privately operated, but is being built with billions in federal grants.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
The project will be privately funded by Tepper Sports and won’t use tax dollars for construction or operation, The Observer previously reported.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
The White House has said the project is being privately funded, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Two Oaks privately funded the $260 million venue, which opened in 2021, but it is owned by the city.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The White House has defended the project, noting that it is being privately funded and that many presidents of the past have made alterations.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Before then, the 1,500-acre plot of land that would become the park was privately owned and used as a hunting preserve.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
The new line in California, Brightline West, will be privately operated, but is being built with billions in federal grants.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
The project will be privately funded by Tepper Sports and won’t use tax dollars for construction or operation, The Observer previously reported.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
The White House has said the project is being privately funded, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for privately
Adverb
-
Strong had secretly asked the sound mixer and prop department to prepare a cassette with the song on it and have the boom box in the room.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
25 Oct. 2025
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In an extra surprise, Samantha and Austin turned out to be secretly married the entire time, having privately eloped a month ago.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The two sides settled confidentially last year and Joyride emerged from bankruptcy.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
-
So these cases are almost always settled confidentially.—
Stayton Bonner,
Robb Report,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Privately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/privately. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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