secretive

secretive
[[t]si͟ːkrətɪv, sɪkri͟ːt-[/t]]
ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ about n
If you are secretive, you like to have secrets and to keep your knowledge, feelings, or intentions hidden.

Billionaires are usually fairly secretive about the exact amount that they're worth.

...the secretive world of spying.

Derived words:
secretively ADV-GRADED ADV after v

...a banknote handed over secretively in the entrance to a building.

secretiveness N-UNCOUNT

He was evasive, to the point of secretiveness.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Secretive — Se*cret ive, a. Tending to secrete, or to keep secret or private; as, a secretive disposition. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • secretive — index clandestine, evasive, furtive, laconic, mysterious, noncommittal, oblique (evasive), sly …   Law dictionary

  • secretive — (adj.) inclined to secrecy, 1815 (implied in secretiveness); see SECRET (Cf. secret) + IVE (Cf. ive). Related: Secretively …   Etymology dictionary

  • secretive — close, close lipped, closemouthed, tight lipped, *silent, uncommunicative, taciturn, reticent, reserved Analogous words: *cautious, circumspect, wary: restrained, inhibited (see RESTRAIN) Contrasted words: *talkative, loquacious, garrulous,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • secretive — [adj] uncommunicative backstairs*, buttoned up*, cagey, clammed up*, close, close mouthed*, covert, cryptic, enigmatic, feline, furtive, hushed, in chambers*, in privacy*, in private, in the background*, in the dark*, on the QT*, reserved,… …   New thesaurus

  • secretive — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ inclined to conceal feelings and intentions or not to disclose information. DERIVATIVES secretively adverb secretiveness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • secretive — [sē′krə tiv; ] occas., and for 2 always [, si krēt′iv] adj. [ SECRET + IVE] 1. tending to conceal one s thoughts, feelings, affairs, etc. from others; reticent; not frank or open 2. SECRETORY secretively adv. secretiveness n …   English World dictionary

  • secretive — adj. secretive about (secretive about one s plans) * * * secretive about (secretive about one s plans) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • secretive — se|cre|tive [ˈsi:krıtıv, sıˈkri:tıv] adj a secretive person or organization likes to keep their thoughts, intentions, or actions hidden from others ▪ The government has been accused of being secretive and undemocratic. secretive about ▪ Carla was …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • secretive — adj. VERBS ▪ be ▪ become ADVERB ▪ extremely, fairly, very, etc. ▪ highly …   Collocations dictionary

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