secrete

as in to conceal
to put into a hiding place the police found the weapon secreted under the driver's seat of the getaway car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word secrete distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of secrete are bury, conceal, hide, and screen. While all these words mean "to withhold or withdraw from sight," secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

Where would bury be a reasonable alternative to secrete?

The words bury and secrete can be used in similar contexts, but bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

In what contexts can conceal take the place of secrete?

In some situations, the words conceal and secrete are roughly equivalent. However, conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

When might hide be a better fit than secrete?

While in some cases nearly identical to secrete, hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet
a house hidden in the woods

When could screen be used to replace secrete?

While the synonyms screen and secrete are close in meaning, screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of secrete The tree secretes gum arabic—a tasteless, nontoxic, pale-white or orange-brown sap that may be harvested at the end of the rainy season in sub-Saharan Africa. Erik Zou, JSTOR Daily, 25 Apr. 2025 Majority Don’t Approve Of Trump’s Handling Of Inflation, Border And Trade The symptoms of perimenopause result from the levels of estrogen and progesterone being secreted by your ovaries progressively dropping over time. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 In some parts of the world, a person may be secreted away or imprisoned by the government without any advanced notification of wrongdoing or chance to make a defense. Andrea Seielstad, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2025 When handled, these treefrogs secrete a sticky toxin as a defense, which can be irritating to mucous membranes of people or pets who make contact with them. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for secrete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secrete
Verb
  • On December 27, 1908, Boy Staunton (a literal boy, double-underlining Davies’s interest in archetypes) throws a snowball with a stone concealed in it at his friend Duncan.
    Casey Cep, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
  • Millions of low-cost devices for media streaming, in-vehicle entertainment, and video projection are infected with malware that turns consumer networks into platforms for distributing malware, concealing nefarious communications, and performing other illicit activities, the FBI has warned.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The idea is simple: guests hide small rubber ducks around the ship for others to find.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • You could be owed part of $95 million settlement May 8, 2025 4:54 PM Read Next National Fashion Nova owes customers $2.4 million after hiding negative reviews, feds say January 30, 2025 5:37 PM Read Next National Robitussin sued over non-drowsy claims.
    Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins buried a left circle wrister to cut the Panthers lead to 3-1, 3:33 into the second period.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
  • Carpentersville may need to spend more than $4 million to bury water and sewer lines below the bottom of the Fox River because dam removal has lowered water levels, officials said.
    Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Secrete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secrete. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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