clandestinely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clandestinely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions that are done secretly or kept hidden, often to avoid detection or disapproval. Example: "The group planned to meet clandestinely to discuss their strategy without attracting attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To avoid the cash being seized by the court-appointed official who had been put in charge of the NUM's finances, it had to be transferred clandestinely to the union.

The Guardian

As a former student rebel, he spent part of the 1970s exiled in Cuba and the rest living clandestinely in Brazil (thanks to a facelift and a spook's discretion) until a political amnesty was declared in 1979.

The Economist

FOR months, Lino Oviedo, Paraguay's fugitive would-be caudillo, had claimed to be living clandestinely in his native country.

The Economist

Now that the EU has virtually halted all primary legal immigration except for purposes of family unification, however, about the only ways into the Union are to slip in or stay on clandestinely, or to try for asylum.

The Economist

But women, many women, for many reasons practiced abortion clandestinely.

The Economist

She clandestinely tapes her frenzied encounters and sells them to collectors.

The Economist

But after talking only indirectly or clandestinely, if at all, for so long, this represents progress, even if the shape of an acceptable final compromise remains hard to discern.

The Economist

He put Iraq's name to the convention outlawing biological weapons, but clandestinely brewed up huge germ stocks, filling special warheads with some of the most awful substances known to science, ready to fire at the western-led coalition that drove him out of Kuwait, at Israel and at his Arab neighbours.

The Economist

AS A special-forces agent in the French Navy, Michel Malalo has clandestinely entered several African countries by sea to extract endangered French nationals.

The Economist

Between 20,000 and 60,000 people still practise polygamy clandestinely, but the church long ago abandoned it and excommunicates its practitioners.In the early years, the church was almost communist in its attitude to private property.

The Economist

In the haul were a number of Qassam missiles, clandestinely manufactured in Gaza, which Hamas and Islamic Jihad units fire at Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, and sometimes at towns and kibbutzim inside Israel.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clandestinely" when you want to emphasize that an action is not only secret but also potentially illicit or against regulations. For instance, "documents were exchanged clandestinely to avoid detection by authorities".

Common error

Avoid using "clandestinely" when a simpler word like "secretly" or "privately" would suffice and the action isn't necessarily illicit. Overusing it can create an unnecessarily dramatic or suspicious tone. Instead of saying "They met clandestinely for coffee", you could say "They met privately for coffee".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "clandestinely" primarily functions to modify verbs, indicating that an action is performed in a secret or covert manner. This usage is supported by examples available through Ludwig AI, which show the word being used to describe how actions are carried out to avoid detection or legal repercussions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Encyclopedias

41%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clandestinely" is an adverb used to describe actions performed secretly, often with an implication of illegality or impropriety. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and very commonly used, especially in news and encyclopedic contexts. While alternatives like "secretly" or "covertly" exist, "clandestinely" adds a nuance of avoiding detection due to the nature of the activity. When writing, use "clandestinely" to highlight not just secrecy but also the potentially illicit nature of an action. Avoid using it in simple, neutral contexts where the stronger connotation is unnecessary, as supported by usage examples in Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

covertly

This is a direct synonym, implying secrecy and concealment.

secretly

This is a general synonym, focusing on the hidden nature of the action.

surreptitiously

This emphasizes the stealthy nature of the action.

in secret

This alternative is a straightforward way of expressing secrecy.

in a secretive manner

This alternative uses a more descriptive approach, emphasizing the manner in which something is done.

stealthily

This highlights the quiet and careful manner in which the action is performed.

furtively

This suggests a sense of guilt or suspicion associated with the action.

behind closed doors

This suggests that something is happening privately and away from public view.

under the radar

This idiom suggests avoiding attention or detection.

on the sly

This idiom implies doing something in a sneaky or secretive way.

FAQs

How to use "clandestinely" in a sentence?

"Clandestinely" is an adverb that describes an action done secretly, typically because it's illicit or needs to avoid detection. For example, "The rebels planned their attack "clandestinely" to avoid alerting the authorities."

What can I say instead of "clandestinely"?

You can use alternatives like "secretly", "covertly", or "surreptitiously" depending on the context. Each alternative has a slightly different nuance, so choose the one that best fits your intended meaning.

Which is correct, "clandestinely" or "secretly"?

Both "clandestinely" and "secretly" are correct, but they are not always interchangeable. "Clandestinely" implies that the action is not only secret but also possibly illegal or against the rules. "Secretly" is more general and simply means hidden from knowledge or view.

What's the difference between "clandestinely" and "covertly"?

"Clandestinely" often implies an element of illegality or impropriety, whereas "covertly" simply means done in a concealed or secret manner, often for strategic or tactical reasons. For example, intelligence operations are often carried out covertly.