1
[ adverb ] in secrecy; not openly

Synonyms

in_secret on_the_QT on_the_Q.T.

Examples

"met secretly to discuss the invasion plans" "the children secretly went to the movies when they were supposed to be at the library" "they arranged to meet in secret"

Used in print

(Mr. America, 4:6...)

Too often a beginning bodybuilder has to do his training secretly either because his parents do n't want sonny-boy to `` lift all those old barbell things '' because `` you 'll stunt your growth '' or because childish taunts from his schoolmates , like `` Hey , lookit Mr._America , whaddya gonna do with all those muscles ( of which he has none at the time ) '' ?

(Philip Jos‚ Farmer, The Lovers....)

Mary was free to marry again , not knowing that the Sturch had secretly given her a divorce , thinking that death had dissolved her marriage .

2
[ adverb ] not openly; inwardly

Examples

"they were secretly delighted at his embarrassment" "hoped secretly she would change her mind"

Related terms

secret secret

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Rhymes with

discreetly concretely exquisitely appropriately illicitly adequately strictly coherently inherently incoherently priestly priestley deliberately minutely significantly tacitly inappropriately implicitly explicitly neatly wheatley courtly differently intermittently devoutly rightly inadequately adequately competently imperfectly intricately delicately tightly innately curtly vehemently decently frequently recently accurately infrequently inaccurately greatly sweetly transparently reluctantly hesitantly inherently apparently importantly abruptly correctly remotely elaborately directly succinctly separately immediately desperately obediently conveniently leniently flagrantly indirectly exactly incorrectly partly portly persistently brightly consistently distinctly costly insistently acutely blatantly fortnightly obediently insufficiently efficiently sufficiently shortly elegantly inefficiently ardently deliberately completely brilliantly sprightly hartley consequently concurrently subsequently eloquently knightly nightly lightly lately promptly wheatley perfectly smartly patently exultantly swiftly quietly constantly instantly incompetently inadvertently negligently intelligently intently stringently adroitly expertly separately moderately desperately stridently privately incidentally motley valiantly currently attlee indignantly ineptly immaculately ghostly passionately slightly silently fortunately approximately forthrightly faintly ghastly violently saintly disproportionately compassionately legitimately definitely deftly alternately complacently covertly intimately consequently inordinately infinitely proportionately indiscriminately dispassionately indefinitely unfortunately affectionately stately ultimately aptly extravagantly evidently modestly diligently abundantly confidently prudently pungently unpleasantly independently presently imprudently pleasantly arrogantly impatiently patiently quaintly poignantly softly vastly flatly firstly mostly lastly stoutly imminently triumphantly fraudulently permanently fervently flamboyantly fluently excellently eminently manifestly virulently dishonestly magnificently reverently

Phonetic and Homophones

S IY1 K R IH0 T L IY0

Similar Spelling

secret secretively secretory secretary secrete secretariat secretarial secretor secretin secreter secretive secretion secreting secretase secretaire secured secret_plan secret_code sea_cradle

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