as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge
the intelligence agency remained secretive despite the media's demands for more openness in government
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Recent Examples of secretive
The post also pulled back the veil, if only slightly, on the complex and secretive process federal officials use to determine who belongs on terrorism watch lists that can influence decisions every day by employers, airport security and law enforcement.
—
Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025
The Queen Mother was notoriously secretive about the collection, which also reportedly includes a diamond necklace that belonged to Marie Antoinette.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 4 July 2025
Generations of visitors to Grand Canyon National Park's quieter, more alpine North Rim have been greeted by elk, bison, mule deer and the possibility of encounters with more secretive species like mountain lions, the Kaibab squirrel and the California condor.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 19 July 2025
Fractures in a secretive Democratic donor group A very underground effort among Indiana's wealthiest liberal donors to pool their money and spend it on progressive causes, outside the struggling state Democratic party structure, is showing signs of fracture.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for secretive
Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025
The Queen Mother was notoriously secretive about the collection, which also reportedly includes a diamond necklace that belonged to Marie Antoinette.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 4 July 2025
Generations of visitors to Grand Canyon National Park's quieter, more alpine North Rim have been greeted by elk, bison, mule deer and the possibility of encounters with more secretive species like mountain lions, the Kaibab squirrel and the California condor.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 19 July 2025
Fractures in a secretive Democratic donor group A very underground effort among Indiana's wealthiest liberal donors to pool their money and spend it on progressive causes, outside the struggling state Democratic party structure, is showing signs of fracture.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for secretive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secretive
Adjective
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At the same time, Cissie Graham Lynch, daughter of Franklin Graham and granddaughter of the late Rev. Billy Graham, is urging believers not to stay silent in the face of growing hostility, including in the United States.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
31 July 2025
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Grief said at the time that the law was silent on whether tickets could be ordered online but purchased in person from a licensed retailer on a player's behalf by a broker.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Accessible only by boat, the island features quiet trails, pebble beaches, and one campsite on the north end.—
Katherine Lawless,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Aug. 2025
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At least the Cubs can take heart knowing the 64-44 Brewers, their chief rival in the NL Central, also stayed quiet.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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With the calendar officially flipped to August, the Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
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Moussa Mara, Mali's former prime minister, was detained pending trial over expressing compassion on X for people jailed for their political beliefs, said Abdoulaye Yaro, a close associate.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And the company's reticent response suggested the whole thing was news to them.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
-
Biden left office and passed the war over to Trump, who was highly reticent about continuing U.S. involvement.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Some supporters felt their club had become too corporate, too cold and too uncommunicative.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
The Athletic,
20 Dec. 2024
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Often, a less qualified candidate who displays high energy and eagerness can outshine a more qualified individual who appears disinterested and uncommunicative.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes,
25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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There’s also the closemouthed, menacing technician who lives on a houseboat and raises snakes; the actress first hired for the show’s leading part who dropped out of the role before shooting began; and the unknown burglar who fled the frightened player’s house.—
Tom Nolan,
WSJ,
23 Dec. 2022
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Hutton’s gaptoothed smile replaced the closemouthed gaze and white eyeliner of Vogue models of the 1960s.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
25 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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Sophie's gun — which was an impulse buy just a few days back — is found and identified as the weapon that killed Abby. Sophie's quest to vindicate herself then leads to the unraveling of dark secrets, sketchy relationships, twisted small-town politics and more.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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Saturday's clip also clarified that the blue sections of the costume are a darker shade of the color — and more reflective — than earlier versions.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Secretive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secretive. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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