as in off-the-record
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Recent Examples of off-the-books
An elite task force of investigators has its hands full when an off-the-books max-security prison sees a massive breach, leading to the escape of the most notorious convicts.
—
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Dec. 2024
For six seasons, FX’s Snowfall, co-created by John Singleton, chronicled how an off-the-books CIA operation contributed to the destruction rock cocaine leveled upon the vibrant community of South Central L.A.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
In 1743, Keith was sent to Fleet Prison for his off-the-books activities.
—Alexandra Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
This second Adam and Eve are at odds because Adam, a trans man, is pregnant, and his sister, a scientist and genetic researcher, has volunteered to be his off-the-books OBGYN, helping him and his partner Fox (Ryan Jamaal Swain) through the pregnancy.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-books
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Dec. 2024
For six seasons, FX’s Snowfall, co-created by John Singleton, chronicled how an off-the-books CIA operation contributed to the destruction rock cocaine leveled upon the vibrant community of South Central L.A.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
In 1743, Keith was sent to Fleet Prison for his off-the-books activities.
—Alexandra Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
This second Adam and Eve are at odds because Adam, a trans man, is pregnant, and his sister, a scientist and genetic researcher, has volunteered to be his off-the-books OBGYN, helping him and his partner Fox (Ryan Jamaal Swain) through the pregnancy.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-books
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-the-books
Adjective
-
Former President Biden spoke with students at the Harvard Kennedy School in an off-the-record study group Wednesday at the invitation of his longtime adviser, Mike Donilon.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
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However, the meeting after the meeting creates an environment where decisions are often undone or altered by informal, off-the-record conversations.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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After authorities responded with mass arrests, weavers formed clandestine committees and took secret oaths.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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Til Schweiger plays a sardonic whale-tourism boat captain (and former elite military operative, obviously) who gets roped into taking down a clandestine organization that’s building the perfect super-soldier through genetic experiments.—
Jordan Crucchiola,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The test of these changes — some of which were only finalized three years ago — will come in the closed-door power brokering that goes on around the conclave, which will elect a new pope.—
Howard Chua-Eoan,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
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The remarks came at a closed-door JPMorgan event in Washington, D.C., a person in the room told CNBC, and were first reported by Bloomberg News .—
Jesse Pound,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The first surreptitious shots of Robbie in costume, however, lit up the internet anew.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2025
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The department has been criticized for using surreptitious means to collect DNA, like grabbing a soda can used by a suspect after questioning.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Former Attorney General Merrick Garland said in October that the Justice Department foiled the plot as the men bought the rifles from an undercover FBI employee.—
Krystal Nurse,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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Kasie discovers that the Poet used jeweler Gemma Wood (Michelle Lukes) as a go-between to broker deals with anonymous clients, so Torres goes undercover as the man himself since news of his death hasn't left NCIS HQ.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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After the unexpected death of the pope, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running the covert process of choosing a new leader.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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Those documents gave curious readers more details about Cold War-era covert U.S. operations in other nations, but did not initially lend credence to long-circulating conspiracy theories about who killed JFK.—
Josh Funk and Haya Panjwani,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In 2022, a consortium of private retirement-plan providers announced a collaboration to boost the portability of small retirement accounts.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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Limonite Av Eval Fire has been burning on private land.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The new north end zone stand won’t be finished for the 2025 football season, but the entire structure, including almost all the concrete work and any underground work, is expected to be completed by the start of the new season.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
18 Apr. 2025
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This week, Lawrence Burney steps in to talk about how a part of Baltimore lingo is entering the wider underground rap lexicon through artists from the Mid-Atlantic.—
Lawrence Burney,
Pitchfork,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off-the-books.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-the-books. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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