covert

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adjective

co·vert ˈkō-(ˌ)vərt

kō-ˈvərt

ˈkə-vərt

: not openly shown, engaged in, or avowed : veiled

a covert alliance

a covert military operation

covert racism

: covered over : sheltered

covert places in the woods

covertly adverb

covertness noun

covert

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noun

co·vert ˈkə-vərt

ˈkō-vərt

also

ˈkə-vər

: hiding place : shelter

: a thicket affording cover for game

: a masking or concealing device

: a feather covering the bases of the quills of the wings and tail of a bird see wing illustration

: a firm durable twilled sometimes waterproofed cloth usually of mixed-color yarns

Choose the Right Synonym for covert

secret, covert, stealthy, furtive, clandestine, surreptitious, underhanded mean done without attracting observation.

secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority.

the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Example Sentences

Adjective He has taken part in a number of covert military operations. spy agencies taking covert action Noun set up a covert from which to watch wildlife without being detected the rabbit rushed to the safety of the nearest covert

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

No, no other covert MCU conversations, other than those two.

Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2022 The initial success of the Cultural Support Team led the special operation forces to train a covert unit of female Afghanistan soldiers, ultimately dubbed the Female Tactical Platoon program, Etchison said.

Ethan Barton, Fox News, 24 Nov. 2022 Pompeo, who pushed for covert drone strikes in Afghanistan, said in an interview with Semafor published Monday.

Tori Otten, The New Republic, 23 Nov. 2022 After one pivotal meeting with his background source, Woodward enters Bernstein’s apartment, wordlessly cranks the radio, and hammers out a covert message.

Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2022 Coffee County was home to the most extensive of the early covert efforts that have come to light.

Emma Brown And Jon Swaine, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Oct. 2022 Their covert collaboration recently became fodder for an episode of The Crown, with Elizabeth Debicki playing Diana, and Andrew Steele portraying the bespectacled author.

Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 15 Nov. 2022 Long before Talokan takes up arms, Wakanda has to deal with a covert offensive from the European nations that claim to be its diplomatic allies.

Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2022 The original Switch received a significant, if covert, battery upgrade in 2019.

Harry Rabinowitz, Popular Mechanics, 9 Nov. 2022

Noun

That’s just after Mando is cast out from his Mandalorian covert for the cardinal sin of removing his helmet in the presence of others.

Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 May 2022 Hunting coverts of primary and secondary growth isn’t always easy, and Faust’s advice is to be physically prepared for a day in the uplands.

Tom Keer, Field & Stream, 2 June 2020 The bonus of finding a spring singing field is that you also will have pinpointed an autumn covert.

Tom Fegely, Field & Stream, 13 Apr. 2020 Back at the Tribe’s underground covert, the Mandalorian donates his full payment to his people.

Alex Kane, USA TODAY, 22 Nov. 2019 In July, a bomb targeting the Afghan covert service killed eight members and six civilians, and wounded hundreds more.

New York Times, 2 Sep. 2019 The two-person rear bench seat coverts into a small double bed and a second double bed fits in the pop-top, allowing the Sixty to sleep four.

Megan Barber, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2018 To keep these images and video covert, cheaters may have a special cloud service.

Kim Komando, Fox News, 15 Sep. 2018 Gates himself has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy and lying to the FBI and vowed to help Mueller's investigation into Russia's covert influencing of the election.

Josh Hafner, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'covert.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.