secretive

adjective

se·​cre·​tive ˈsē-krə-tiv How to pronounce secretive (audio)
si-ˈkrē-
Synonyms of secretivenext
: disposed to secrecy : not open or outgoing in speech, activity, or purposes
secretively adverb
secretiveness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for secretive

silent, taciturn, reticent, reserved, secretive mean showing restraint in speaking.

silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.

the strong, silent type

taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.

taciturn villagers

reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.

greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal.

the secretive research and development division

Examples of secretive in a Sentence

He's very secretive about his work. the intelligence agency remained secretive despite the media's demands for more openness in government
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The highly secretive ceremony transformed the arena's interior to welcome their extensive guest list, which included officiant Adam Sandler, and many more. Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 She and Cooper were spotted heading to the highly secretive event by car amid reports that Hadid is one of the singer's bridesmaids. Meg Walters, InStyle, 3 July 2026 Kerry Washington married actor and former NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha in a secretive, Idaho-set wedding in June 2013. Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026 All three occurred in Charlotte since May, only about a year after the city faced questions over a secretive settlement with its outgoing police chief and the fallout from a heavily politicized murder on public transit. Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for secretive

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from secretiveness, partial translation of French secrétivité

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of secretive was in 1835

Cite this Entry

“Secretive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

secretive

adjective
se·​cre·​tive ˈsē-krət-iv How to pronounce secretive (audio)
si-ˈkrēt-
: having a tendency toward secrecy and concealment : not frank or open
secretively adverb
secretiveness noun

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