Synonyms

secretly

American

[see-krit-lee] / ˈsi krɪt li /

adverb

in a way that is kept from the knowledge of others or is designed to escape their notice.

He later discovered that the couple had secretly married in a discreet ceremony six months ago.
Many of the wood and stone looks you see in homes every day are secretly vinyl flooring.

Other Word Forms

nonsecretly adverb
quasi-secretly adverb
semisecretly adverb
ultrasecretly adverb
unsecretly adverb

Etymology

Origin of secretly

secret ( def. ) + -ly

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.

He’d known that the quarantine would end, and not that he wanted anyone to barf, but he had secretly wished the lockdown would go on a few more days.

From Literature

I shushed him with mock indignance though secretly enjoying myself because I couldn’t deny it—not to Bright, anyway; he was too smart for that— Kekeli had my heart.

From Literature

Yet, it’s no spoiler to reveal that during her long weeks and months as an anchorite, Aleys found the means to slowly and secretly teach Marte, lowliest of the Beguines, how to read and write.

From Los Angeles Times

The vice team’s mistake was hiring a private bugging expert, because he secretly ran a second line to his own listening post.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, $500,000 was allegedly secretly moved into a trust for your brother without your knowledge or consent.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023