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Furtive

Secretive and stealthy, avoiding notice or attention, especially to conceal wrongdoing or achieve a goal.

adjective

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Imagine This

Picture a cat burglar moving across a dimly lit room, pausing to listen for creaks, eyes fixed on the treasure as they tiptoe to avoid any sound.

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Sounds Like

FUR-tiv

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Looks Like

FUR-tive; visually resembles 'fur' + 'tive'

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Remember This

Furtive often implies slyness or guilt; related forms include furtiveness (noun) and furtively (adverb).

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Other Forms

furtivenessnoun

furtivelyadverb

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Connect With

surreptitious, clandestine, stealthy, covert, secretive

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Note

Furtive describes stealthy, covert behavior or looks meant to avoid notice and may imply wrongdoing. It is more suspicious than merely secretive or covert in a neutral sense. Use furtively to describe the action; reserve furtive for behavior that feels shady or dishonest.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The thief cast a furtive glance toward the door before slipping out of the room.
Her furtive movements at the computer suggested she was trying to access restricted files.

Synonyms

secretivesurreptitiousstealthyslycovert

Antonyms

openfrankcandidblatant

Etymology

From Latin furtivus meaning 'stolen, secret,' from furtum 'theft'; the sense evolved to describe secret or sly behavior.

Mnemonic

FUR-tive: imagine a thief wearing a fur coat, moving carefully and quietly to avoid being seen.