surreptitious meaning and definition

SURREPTITIOUS adjective

Definition of surreptitious (adjective)

1. marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
   • "a furtive manner"; "a sneak attack"; "stealthy footsteps"; "a surreptitious glance at his watch"
   • synonyms: furtive, sneak, sneaky, stealthy
2. conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
   • "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, secret, undercover, underground