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secret

/ˈsiː.kɹɪt/noun, adjective2 syllables

Secret means: conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods.

Synonyms for secret30

noun, as in something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

mystery, enigma, closed book

noun, as in information known only to a special group

arcanum

adjective, as in conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods

clandestine, cloak-and-dagger, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, surreptitious, undercover, underground, covert

adjective, as in having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding

mysterious, mystic, mystical, occult, orphic, esoteric

adjective, as in hidden from general view or use

privy, secluded, private

adjective, as in not openly made known

unavowed, unacknowledged

adjective, as in not expressed

private, inward

adjective, as in designed to elude detection

hidden, concealed

adjective, as in (of information) given in confidence or in secret

confidential, private

adjective, as in not open or public; kept private or not revealed

concealed

adjective, as in communicated covertly

covert

adjective, as in indulging only covertly

covert

adjective, as in the next to highest level of official classification for documents

classified

also used for secret

hidden and Thesaurus:covert

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does secret mean?14

adjective

1

conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods“clandestine intelligence operations”

2

having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding“mysterious symbols”

3

hidden from general view or use“a privy place to rest and think”

4

not openly made known“a secret marriage”

5

not expressed“secret (or private) thoughts”

6

designed to elude detection“a hidden room or place of concealment such as a priest hole”

7

(of information) given in confidence or in secret“this arrangement must be kept confidential”

8

not open or public; kept private or not revealed“a secret formula”

9

communicated covertly“their secret signal was a wink”

10

indulging only covertly“a secret alcoholic”

11

the next to highest level of official classification for documents

noun

1

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained“how it got out is a mystery”

2

information known only to a special group“the secret of Cajun cooking”

3

something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)“the combination to the safe was a secret”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Secret in a sentence

  • This, in essence, is the secret of science.shekitten
  • The human heart has hidden treasures, in secret kept, in silence sealed.unknown
  • The joys of parents are secret, and so are their grief's and fears.unknown
  • At last, she gave in to him and told him the secret.CK
  • I could keep it a secret, but not for too long.sacredceltic
  • The secret of football is the ball, you see.raggione
  • This potion is made from mandrake roots, as well as other secret ingredients.Hybrid
  • Red wine is beneficial, its secret lies in dosing.unknown

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of secret

as a noun

plural
secrets