covert
Adjective
Medium difficulty
What does “covert” mean?
adjective.not openly acknowledged or displayed.
SAT Usage
This term often appears in passages related to espionage, politics, or psychology, emphasizing actions or motives that are hidden or secretive. It suggests a deliberate intention to conceal, contrasting with words like "overt," which indicates openness or visibility in behavior or intentions.
Common Confusions
Covert implies actions or motives that are deliberately hidden, while overt usually suggests behavior or intentions that are openly displayed and easily observed.
Do not choose covert if the context emphasizes openness or visibility rather than being not openly acknowledged or displayed.
Example Sentences
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The agency ran a covert operation to gather intelligence.