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Covertly vs Secretly

Both 'covertly' and 'secretly' are correct adverbs that can be used to describe actions done in a concealed or hidden manner. They are interchangeable in many contexts, but 'covertly' tends to imply a more strategic or planned concealment, while 'secretly' can be used in a broader range of situations.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 592 views

Covertly

The adverb 'covertly' is correct and commonly used in English to describe actions done in a concealed or hidden manner.

Use 'covertly' to describe actions that are done in a secretive or hidden way, often with a strategic or planned intent.

Examples:

The spy operated covertly to gather information.
The company conducted covertly surveillance on its competitors.

Show examples from the web [+]

Covertly investigating the head of the Public Integrity Unit's finances.
Stay in touch with us... covertly.
The reason this is able to happen is that the rules are hard to enforce, since recruitment often takes place covertly, and workers from the new Member States are unaware of their rights.
"In our next article we will write the names of some company owners, who, because of the upcoming political elections, have covertly sent tens of billions abroad."
For years Fiorello has operated covertly.
There was clearly a group inside my staff that worked covertly to use the influence of this office
This is why you covertly hushed us into a corner?
When the CIA decides to move someone covertly... who gives the order for that?
So you think if he'd been targeted covertly by the Israeli military, he'd have had the strength to stand up to them?
We have a scenario to move the rods covertly, yes? Yes, sir.
For the last few days, the Bulgagrian citizens have witnessed yet another attempt of the Government to apply obscure criteria so that to covertly re-dtsirbute the state budget surplus and enable the so-called "black coffers" of the ruling parties to absorb funds in an unregulated manner.
You forced them to work covertly.
It might have been done covertly.
That explains the people I've noticed covertly surveilling the campus this week.
...covertly installed on your premises.
The whole mystique of intelligence is that you acquire this very valuable information covertly.
We were ordered to covertly go into North Korea with the intention of committing terrorist attacks.
Our mission was to covertly observe if the planet went Origin or not.
I would like to contact Agent Weaver at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, covertly.
In the spring of 1944, Allied leaders covertly send Patton to England...

Alternatives:

secretly
stealthily
surreptitiously
clandestinely
furtively

Secretly

The adverb 'secretly' is correct and commonly used in English to describe actions done in a concealed or hidden manner.

Use 'secretly' to describe actions that are done in a hidden or concealed way, without others knowing.

Examples:

She secretly bought a gift for her friend.
He was secretly planning a surprise party.

Show examples from the web [+]

He was... Secretly very sick.
Secretly into the bossom creep of that some noble prelate, well...
Secretly, in one week... for a group of men in Washington that had never gone to Iraq.
Secretly, I'm like a tea kettle, always ready to scream out in agony.
Secretly waiting for something, anything, to pull her out of it.
Secretly. Now I realise why he kept it a secret.
Secretly, you're not a doucher.
Secretly dreamed of being George M. Cohan?
Hear it, feel it Secretly possess you
"Secretly, I met my beloved's gaze"
Secretly, and without respecting any rights, the individual is removed from the territory of the United States, and hence its native principles, which fortunately reject such behaviour, are not violated, since the interrogations take place on foreign territory.
Secretly, he entrusted the safety of the child to the magic of the pixies, who would take her to a remote hideaway for 16 years and a day.
Secretly getting married and seeing my face with such an innocent face, how did you feel?
Guy secretly worked for Japanese military.
He's secretly circulating a petition to remove Houston.
Your mom thinks everyone secretly swings that way.
To sell secretly merchandise when arranged buyers.
There are rumours that your grace secretly supports the queen.
A vaccine secretly developed by WilPharma.
Or when they're secretly healing themself from a gunshot Wound.

Alternatives:

covertly
stealthily
surreptitiously
clandestinely
furtively

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