Synonyms of furtive
42 similar words
Another word for furtive is deep-laid. Other synonyms of furtive are secretive, cloak-and-dagger, clandestine, slinky and surreptitious.
Synonyms and similar words for furtive
adjectiveOf a thing: done with evasive or guilty secrecy.
- clandestineDone or kept in secret, sometimes to conceal an illicit or improper purpose.
- surreptitiousStealthy, furtive, well hidden, covert (especially movements).
- abstruseConcealed or hidden; secret.
- behind the scenes
- catlike
- backroom
- backstairsSecret or furtive.
- stealth slang
- cloak-and-daggerMarked by menacing furtive secrecy, often with a melodramatic tint or espionage involved.
- concealedHidden.
- confidential
- covert
- deep-laidSecret and carefully planned.
- dernHidden; secret; private.
- disguised
- huggermugger
- hush-hushSecret, not spoken of (or spoken of only in hushed whispers between insiders).
- inconspicuous
- incognitoWithout being known; in an assumed character, or under an assumed title; in disguise.
- low profileAn intentionally furtive position as to not arouse suspicion or catch attention.
- lurksomeCharacterised or marked by lurking; lurky.
- lurkyTending to lurk; given to or indicative of lurking.
- mousy
- obfuscated
- off-the-books
- on the down-low
- on the slySlyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily.
- secret
- secretiveHaving an inclination to secrecy.
- slinkyFurtive, stealthy or catlike.
- sly
- sneaky
- stealthyCharacterized by or resembling stealth or secrecy.
- sub rosaCarried out confidentially or secretly.
- under-the-table
- under the radarWithout attracting notice; in an undetected or secretive manner.
- under wraps
- undercover
- undergroundHidden, furtive, secretive.
- unperceivedNot perceived.
Meaning of furtive
- adjective Of a thing: done with evasive or guilty secrecy.
- adjective Of a thing: that has been acquired by theft; stolen; also (generally) taken stealthily.
- adjective Of a person or an animal: sly, stealthy.
furtive in other languages
Questions about synonyms of furtive
- What is another word for furtive?
- Furtive has 42 synonyms on Word.ws, such as deep-laid, secretive, cloak-and-dagger, clandestine, slinky, surreptitious, backstairs and concealed.
- What does furtive mean?
- Furtive means of a thing: done with evasive or guilty secrecy.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: furtive (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of furtive.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/furtive. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.