surreptitious
Adjective
Hard difficulty
What does “surreptitious” mean?
adjective.kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
SAT Usage
the term often appears in contexts involving secrecy, stealth, or covert actions, particularly in discussions about espionage, deception, or forbidden relationships. It emphasizes the clandestine nature of the actions, suggesting a deliberate effort to evade detection or disapproval, distinguishing it from similar words like "covert," which may lack the implication of intent to keep something hidden.
Common Confusions
Surreptitious implies a deliberate effort to keep actions secret due to their disapproval, while covert usually suggests hidden actions without the same connotation of intent to avoid detection or moral judgment.
Example Sentences
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He made a surreptitious exit before the meeting ended.
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His surreptitious attempts to gather confidential information from his colleagues were finally uncovered, leading to his dismissal from the company.