surreptitious
/ˌsʌɹɪpˈtɪʃəs/
Group 14Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of GRE
Example in Context
The surreptitious recording of the board meeting was leaked to the press, igniting a corporate governance scandal.
Synonyms
sneakystealthycovert
Etymology
Seizing something secretly without being noticed.
- surripere (Latin) — to seize secretly
Memory Aid
🤫Sounds like “sir up TISH us”
A SIR sneaking up to TISH his friends' secrets, whispering 'Shhh, I'm being SURREPTITIOUS!'
Visual Association
👀A raccoon sneaking away with a shiny object under the cover of night, eyes darting around.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “surreptitious” mean on the GRE?
surreptitious (adjective) means “Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of”. The surreptitious recording of the board meeting was leaked to the press, igniting a corporate governance scandal.
How to remember “surreptitious” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “surreptitious” sounds like “sir up TISH us”. A SIR sneaking up to TISH his friends' secrets, whispering 'Shhh, I'm being SURREPTITIOUS!'
What are synonyms for “surreptitious”?
Common synonyms: sneaky, stealthy, covert.