Secretive: meaning, definitions and examples

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secretive

 

[ หˆsiหkrษ™tษชv ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

in behavior

inclined to keep one's thoughts, feelings, and intentions hidden from others; not revealing or open

Synonyms

mysterious, private, reserved

Examples of usage

  • He was a secretive person who rarely shared his true emotions.
  • The company has a secretive culture where employees are discouraged from discussing their projects with others.
Context #2 | Adjective

in nature

having a tendency to conceal information or actions; characterized by secrecy

Synonyms

clandestine, stealthy, surreptitious

Examples of usage

  • She had a secretive smile that made others curious about what she was hiding.
  • The secretive nature of the organization raised suspicions among the public.

Translations

Translations of the word "secretive" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น reservado

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค—เฅเคชเฅเคค

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช geheimnisvoll

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ rahasia

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั‚ะฐั”ะผะฝะธั‡ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ skryty

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็ง˜ๅฏ†ไธป็พฉใฎ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท secret

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ reservado

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gizli

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋น„๋ฐ€์Šค๋Ÿฌ์šด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณุฑูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tajemnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ tajomnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ง˜ๅฏ†็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ skrivnosten

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ leyndardรณmsfullur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›าฑะฟะธัะปั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒ˜แƒ“แƒฃแƒ›แƒšแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ gizli

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ reservado

Etymology

The word 'secretive' originated from the combination of the word 'secret' with the suffix '-ive', which is used to form adjectives. The term has been in use since the 19th century, evolving to describe individuals or things that are inclined to keep secrets or conceal information. The concept of secrecy has been a part of human behavior for centuries, with the need to protect sensitive information or maintain privacy driving the use of words like 'secretive' to describe such behavior.

See also: secrecy, secret, secretary, secrete, secretion, secretively, secretly.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,209, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.