English adjective: secret | |||
1. | secret not open or public; kept private or not revealed | ||
Samples | A secret formula. Secret ingredients. Secret talks. | ||
Similar | concealed | ||
Antonyms | unconcealed | ||
2. | secret conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods | ||
Samples | Clandestine intelligence operations. Cloak-and-dagger activities behind enemy lines. Hole-and-corner intrigue. Secret missions. A secret agent. Secret sales of arms. Surreptitious mobilization of troops. An undercover investigation. Underground resistance. | ||
Synonyms | clandestine, cloak-and-dagger, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, surreptitious, undercover, underground | ||
Similar | covert | ||
Antonyms | overt, open | ||
3. | secret not openly made known | ||
Samples | A secret marriage. A secret bride. | ||
Synonyms | unavowed | ||
Similar | unacknowledged | ||
Antonyms | acknowledged | ||
4. | secret communicated covertly | ||
Samples | Their secret signal was a wink. Secret messages. | ||
Similar | covert | ||
Antonyms | overt, open | ||
5. | secret not expressed | ||
Samples | Secret (or private) thoughts. | ||
Synonyms | private | ||
Similar | inward | ||
Antonyms | outward | ||
6. | secret designed to elude detection | ||
Samples | A hidden room or place of concealment such as a priest hole. A secret passage. The secret compartment in the desk. | ||
Synonyms | hidden | ||
Similar | concealed | ||
Antonyms | unconcealed | ||
7. | secret hidden from general view or use | ||
Samples | A privy place to rest and think. A secluded romantic spot. A secret garden. | ||
Synonyms | privy, secluded | ||
Similar | private | ||
Antonyms | public | ||
8. | secret (of information) given in confidence or in secret | ||
Samples | This arrangement must be kept confidential. Their secret communications. | ||
Synonyms | confidential | ||
Similar | private | ||
Antonyms | public | ||
9. | secret indulging only covertly | ||
Samples | A secret alcoholic. | ||
Similar | covert | ||
Antonyms | overt, open | ||
10. | secret having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding | ||
Samples | Mysterious symbols. The mystical style of Blake. Occult lore. The secret learning of the ancients. | ||
Synonyms | mysterious, mystic, mystical, occult, orphic | ||
Similar | esoteric | ||
Antonyms | exoteric | ||
11. | secret the next to highest level of official classification for documents | ||
Similar | classified | ||
Antonyms | unclassified | ||
English noun: secret | |||
1. | secret (communication) something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on) | ||
Samples | The combination to the safe was a secret. He tried to keep his drinking a secret. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | info, information | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | confidence, open secret, trade secret | ||
2. | secret (communication) information known only to a special group | ||
Samples | The secret of Cajun cooking. | ||
Synonyms | arcanum | ||
Broader (hypernym) | info, information | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | cabala, cabbala, cabbalah, countersign, esoterica, kabala, kabbala, kabbalah, parole, password, qabala, qabalah, watchword, word | ||
3. | secret (cognition) something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained | ||
Samples | How it got out is a mystery. It remains one of nature's secrets. | ||
Synonyms | closed book, enigma, mystery | ||
Broader (hypernym) | perplexity | ||