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
The secretive conclave, in which roughly 130 cardinals from around the world gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next Catholic Church leader is already prompting real movie-worthy drama.
—
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Apr. 2025
During this highly secretive process, recently dramatized in the 2024 Oscar-winning film Conclave, the cardinals are completely cut off from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
The secretive country's leader, Kim Jong-Un, said last year that Pyongyang would use nuclear weapons to annihilate South Korea if Seoul launched an attack north of the border.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Cardinal electors meet in the Sistine Chapel and begin the secretive voting process for the next pope.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secretive
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Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Apr. 2025
During this highly secretive process, recently dramatized in the 2024 Oscar-winning film Conclave, the cardinals are completely cut off from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
The secretive country's leader, Kim Jong-Un, said last year that Pyongyang would use nuclear weapons to annihilate South Korea if Seoul launched an attack north of the border.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Cardinal electors meet in the Sistine Chapel and begin the secretive voting process for the next pope.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for secretive
Cite this Entry
“Secretive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secretive. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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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