1
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace
a tell-all book about the behind-the-scenes negotiations that got him the vice presidential nomination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
behind-the-scenes negotiations that resulted in the hostages being released unharmed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of behind-the-scenes
Ahead of the film's release, the costars spoke to Vogue Australia and reflected on a collection of meaningful behind-the-scenes moments.
—
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Homan told reporters, suggesting discussions are ongoing behind-the-scenes.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
That set her apart from other South Korean first ladies – who traditionally were viewed as humble, behind-the-scenes figures.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026
That’s one of the things that made Sundance so special, all the behind-the-scenes frenzy that only happens when trapped together in a tiny mountain town.
—Rena Ronson, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behind-the-scenes
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Homan told reporters, suggesting discussions are ongoing behind-the-scenes.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
That set her apart from other South Korean first ladies – who traditionally were viewed as humble, behind-the-scenes figures.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026
That’s one of the things that made Sundance so special, all the behind-the-scenes frenzy that only happens when trapped together in a tiny mountain town.
—Rena Ronson, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behind-the-scenes
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behind-the-scenes
Adjective
-
The plaintiffs seek at least $10 billion in damages over alleged leaks of their confidential tax information, a lawsuit showed Thursday.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
All calls are toll-free and confidential.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Manned semisubmersibles built in clandestine jungle shipyards have been used for decades to ferry cocaine north from Colombia, the world's biggest cocaine producer, to Central America or Mexico.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Written and directed by Jafar Panahi (known for his clandestine 2011 documentary This Is Not a Film), the story follows released political prisoners seeking revenge after a chance roadside meeting.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The beauty of binoculars Of course, city stargazers have a not-so-secret weapon in their war against light pollution — the light-gathering power and magnification of binoculars.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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That is, until Simon's secret superpowers and the Department of Damage Control get in the way of their Hollywood dreams.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Akers was working undercover as part of a task force when Stewart, 46, ran from uniformed law enforcement officers and then hid inside an unlocked tow truck.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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The undercover investigators later spoke with Lorenz by phone.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Another lawsuit brought by detainees in federal court in Fort Myers argued that immigration was a federal issue, and Florida agencies and private contractors hired by the state had no authority to operate the facility under federal law.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
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Indiana is preparing to work with private industry to determine the feasibility of retrieving rare earth elements from its legacy coal byproducts.—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Get Ready: Katy Perry Has Released a Sneak Peek of Her New Song And the internet has receipts.—
Mehera Bonner,
Marie Claire,
15 Mar. 2017
Adjective
-
Over the course of the novel, each Flynn girl is suspended from school at least once for some screwball infraction, including spreading conspiratorial theories about covert surveillance operations in town, punching another kid in the face, and preparing to commit an act of domestic terrorism.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
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After Cruise's Ethan Hunt is falsely accused of planting a bomb that nearly obliterates the Kremlin, he is secretly tasked with exposing the real culprit, teaming with fellow agents Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg) and an intelligence analyst (Jeremy Renner) on a covert mission.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For the next two years, David spent most of his time held captive in underground tunnels built beneath the Gaza Strip.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The casino also will have a players lounge; 11 bars, including a center bar and a sports bar; and 3,500 parking spaces, consisting of a 2,700-space underground parking garage and 800 surface parking spaces.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Behind-the-scenes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behind-the-scenes. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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