1
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions
a furtive guy who always seems to be up to something, and usually that something is no-good
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
gave each other furtive glances as we watched our friend open the booby-trapped soda
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of furtive
Focusing only on gains also says nothing about the nature of the journeys taken, the process travelers use to convert furtive motion into self-reinvention, and the places that assist or block these quests.
—
Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
One of Austin’s best taquerias is moving from its furtive spot in a downtown alley to one of the most famous streets in the city.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
At the cottage, our protagonists replace the furtive glances and locker-room tension from earlier episodes with quiet intimacy and words of affirmation.
—Chris Dong, USA Today, 27 Dec. 2025
In a grimy gray wig and sober black suit that subtly but pointedly leaps a century forward from the play’s origins to recall the Founding Fathers, Matthew Broderick’s Tartuffe speaks like the grandpa next door and pads across the stage with furtive footsteps, a monster masquerading as a mouse.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for furtive
Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
One of Austin’s best taquerias is moving from its furtive spot in a downtown alley to one of the most famous streets in the city.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
At the cottage, our protagonists replace the furtive glances and locker-room tension from earlier episodes with quiet intimacy and words of affirmation.
—Chris Dong, USA Today, 27 Dec. 2025
In a grimy gray wig and sober black suit that subtly but pointedly leaps a century forward from the play’s origins to recall the Founding Fathers, Matthew Broderick’s Tartuffe speaks like the grandpa next door and pads across the stage with furtive footsteps, a monster masquerading as a mouse.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for furtive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furtive
Adjective
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The company is also developing Blood Aces, which will see Stallone and Yellowstone star Cole Hauser team to produce, with Hauser attached to star as shady casino operator Benny Binion.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
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Mahonia is an evergreen shrub with intricate leaf texture that infuses movement into shady spaces.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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But in the current political climate, clandestine behaviors could win out.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
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These relations are not based on secrecy or clandestine arrangements.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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Davis occasionally destabilizes this very familiar soundtrack with sly production tricks from Horne.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Elsewhere, Brad Oscar’s Mayor Menlove — memorably played on the series by Alan Cumming — brings warmth and sly humor to the role, while Ann Harada smoothly reprises her TV performance as Florence Menlove.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
This soot reduction could also make engines stealthier by reducing their infrared signature.—
David Szondy
May 17,
New Atlas,
17 May 2026
-
Surviving here demands stealth more so than strength — and harpy eagles are astonishingly stealthy.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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Amarteifio and Edebiri have an understated chemistry that makes the covert passion between these two women believable.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
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These UUVs are becoming increasingly capable of autonomous operations and performing adaptive search patterns enabling wide area covert operations.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Right now, everyone’s going for a casual collarbone bob, and what some might consider boring is actually full of sneaky appeal and versatility.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
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Worn shoes are a sneaky culprit behind foot pain and even pain that might seem unrelated to your feet.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Gaff reportedly obliged, providing the undercover detectives with a sample that was subsequently sent through the federal database CODIS, where investigators ultimately linked him to Weaver's murder.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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Essayli on Monday confirmed that Armstrong became known to the DOJ after an undercover video was posted online by James O'Keefe, the founder of conservative nonprofit Project Veritas.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Furtive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furtive. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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