secretive
adjective
se·cre·tive
ˈsē-krə-tiv 
si-ˈkrē-
: disposed to secrecy : not open or outgoing in speech, activity, or purposes
secretively
adverb
secretiveness
noun
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
For the secretive billionaire Besnier family, the recent recall of potentially dangerous infant formula made by its nearly century-old firm brings an uncomfortable feeling of deja vu.
—
Tara Patel, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
And there was a special thrill in the idea that the CIA, a famously secretive organization, was the one providing it to you.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
The codes were so secretive that not all enslaved people knew about them.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Langer noted that the typical Super Bowl events entail exclusive and secretive guest lists, with limited or no access to the public.
—Sara Donchey, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for secretive
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Tara Patel, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
And there was a special thrill in the idea that the CIA, a famously secretive organization, was the one providing it to you.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
The codes were so secretive that not all enslaved people knew about them.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Langer noted that the typical Super Bowl events entail exclusive and secretive guest lists, with limited or no access to the public.
—Sara Donchey, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for secretive
Cite this Entry
“Secretive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretive. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
secretive
adjective
se·cre·tive
ˈsē-krət-iv
si-ˈkrēt-
: having a tendency toward secrecy and concealment : not frank or open
secretively
adverb
secretiveness
noun
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