Meaning & use
surreptitious
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Done quietly and secretly so that other people do not notice, especially because it is not allowed.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: a surreptitious glance; the deal was surreptitious.
Patterns
- a surreptitious glance/look
- a surreptitious attempt to do something
- do something in a surreptitious way
She took a surreptitious glance at her phone under the desk.
He made a surreptitious attempt to read the letter on the table.
The company paid the money in a surreptitious way to avoid attention.
adjectivenot comparable
Showing a wish to keep something hidden, so that the person seems untrustworthy.
Grammar: Often describes behavior or manner rather than a single action: surreptitious behavior.
Patterns
- surreptitious behavior
- a surreptitious manner
His surreptitious behavior made the other guests suspicious.
There was something surreptitious about the way she left the room.
Word forms
| adverb | surreptitiously |
|---|
Common combinations
- a surreptitious glance
- He stole a surreptitious glance at the answers on her paper.
- surreptitious entry
- The report described the surreptitious entry into the building.
- in a surreptitious manner
- The documents were removed in a surreptitious manner.
- surreptitious recording
- Surreptitious recording of private calls is illegal in many places.
- surreptitious means
- They obtained the files by surreptitious means.
Synonyms and how they differ
- secret
- Much more general and common; it simply means not known by others, while surreptitious stresses the quiet, sneaky way something is done.
- covert
- Used mainly for official or military actions that are deliberately hidden; surreptitious is more often about personal, everyday actions.
- stealthy
- Focuses on moving carefully so as not to be heard or seen; surreptitious can also describe a hidden plan or payment.
- sneaky
- Informal and disapproving, the everyday equivalent; surreptitious is formal and sounds more neutral.
Opposites
Word family
- surreptitiously adverb
- In a quiet, secret way so as not to be noticed.
Commonly confused: surreptitious or suspicious?
surreptitious vs suspicious
Suspicious means causing or feeling doubt about someone; surreptitious describes the secret action itself, which may make others suspicious.
Practice
Which sentence uses "surreptitious" correctly?
Choose one answer.
"Surreptitious" describes something done quietly and secretly, so a hidden smile fits. The weather, a love of jazz, and a cake are not secret actions, so the other options do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “surreptitious”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.