Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

hush-hush

American  
[huhsh-huhsh] / ˈhʌʃˌhʌʃ /

adjective

  1. highly secret or confidential.

    a hush-hush political investigation.


hush-hush British  

adjective

  1. informal (esp of official work, documents, etc) secret; confidential

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hush-hush

First recorded in 1915–20; reduplication based on hush


Vocabulary lists containing hush-hush

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Gerko often posts acerbic barbs on LinkedIn about XTX’s rivals, making him an unusually vocal figure in the hush-hush world of computerized traders.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

“It was the kind of hush-hush tones in people, I knew something wasn’t right.”

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2025

Why do you think menopause has been a hush-hush topic in the past, and why is it so important that open conversations about it continue?

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2025

It’s difficult to discern just how many companies are employing A.I. to help set wages because such internal processes are usually kept hush-hush.

From Slate ● Oct. 13, 2024

Graduation, the hush-hush magic time of frills and gifts and congratulations and diplomas, was finished for me before my name was called.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com