surreptitiously

American  

[sur-uhp-tish-uhs-lee] / ˌsɜr əpˈtɪʃ əs li /

adverb

1. in a secret or unauthorized way; stealthily.

   After it surreptitiously installs itself on a user's phone, the spyware program can steal credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal information.

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Etymology

Origin of surreptitiously

First recorded in 1580–90; surreptitious ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

While most of its players are innocents, dubbed Faithfuls, Cumming surreptitiously chooses several to be Traitors.

From Salon

He plays surreptitiously recorded phone conversations between opposition leaders.

From The Wall Street Journal

Through a youth theatrical group, he met Jews who were surreptitiously distributing leaflets calling for resistance to the Nazis, including sabotage in factories.

From The Wall Street Journal

Boyd was allowed to speak to witnesses and make phone calls—to his lawyer and, surreptitiously, to the deputy police chief in charge of homicide investigations who promised him help.

From The Wall Street Journal

The recognition of a sculpture surreptitiously flipping the bird certainly produces a smile.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• covertly
• secretly
• stealthily