covert message

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "covert message" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a message meant to be kept secret, often exchanged in secrecy or in a hidden way. Example: She whispered a covert message to her co-worker, warning them about a potential security breach.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

To improve the robustness, we employ Gray code to encode the covert message for mitigating the packet loss and reordering.

Information Sciences

Perhaps there was a covert message in all this that Washington was sending to Moscow.

The Guardian - Opinion

The design of this project is to enable the sending of a covert message between 2 communication devices utilizing steganographic techniques.

University of California, Berkeley

In order to build CTCs in such scenario, we propose a robust and undetectable CTC by packet rearrangement which can modulate covert message into number of packets between RTCP packets of VoLTE traffic.

Information Sciences

Not only has the overt subject of the photograph changed -- no longer being the dress or beauty at its most perfect -- but the covert message and the viewer's very relationship to the picture have also changed.

The New York Times - Arts

Asked to comment on Mr. Kavanagh's column, Roy Greenslade, a Guardian media blogger who worked at The Sun when Mr. Murdoch prowled its newsroom during the Falklands war, endorsing sensational headlines, told BBC Radio 4: "it's an overt attack on the police, but the covert message is the most interesting one.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Covert timing channels (CTCs) can transmit covert messages by modulating the timing behavior of an entity in overt network communication.

Information Sciences

In majority of existing solutions, the covert messages are hidden in inter-packet delays (IPDs) of legitimate traffic.

Information Sciences

British officials passed covert messages to the Indonesian generals saying that they would not attack them in Borneo and "distract" them from their "necessary task" at home.

The Guardian

When I was on "The Tonight Show" last month, I was on with James Carville, and his wife was with Cheney, and he was getting covert messages like, "He's in the cave".

The New York Times - Magazine

As it has in previous correspondence with the athletes, the anti-doping agency detailed what it called a systematic effort to use performance-enhancing drugs and conceal their use with codes and covert messages.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "covert message", ensure the context clearly indicates who is sending the message, who is intended to receive it, and why the message needs to be concealed.

Common error

Avoid using "covert message" when a simpler term like "private message" or "confidential note" would suffice. "Covert" implies a higher degree of secrecy, often involving potential risks or illicit activities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "covert message" functions as a noun phrase, where "covert" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "message". It typically serves to identify a communication that is deliberately hidden or disguised. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "covert message" denotes a deliberately concealed communication, as verified by Ludwig AI. Grammatically correct and usable, it functions as a noun phrase, with "covert" modifying "message". Its purpose is to describe and categorize secret communications, often in scenarios requiring discretion. While appearing in various contexts, it is most frequently encountered in "News & Media" and "Science", indicating a tendency towards formal usage. For alternatives, consider "secret communication" or "hidden communication", bearing in mind the nuances of each term. When using "covert message", ensure the context warrants the implication of intentional concealment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secret communication

Focuses on the secrecy of the communication itself, removing the explicit mention of a 'message'.

hidden communication

Emphasizes the concealed nature of the communication, rather than its intentional secrecy.

undercover communication

Suggests that the communication is part of an operation or investigation.

clandestine communication

Highlights the illicit or unauthorized nature of the communication.

stealth communication

Emphasizes the element of avoiding detection during the communication.

disguised communication

Highlights how the communication is changed in appearance to avoid detection.

veiled communication

Suggests that the message is partially hidden or obscured, rather than completely secret.

coded message

Focuses on the use of a code to conceal the message's content.

confidential communication

Highlights the sensitive or private nature of the communication.

unpublicized message

Focuses on the message not being publicly declared.

FAQs

How can I use "covert message" in a sentence?

You might use "covert message" to describe spies exchanging information or someone sending a secret signal during a meeting. For example: "The agent sent a "covert message" to headquarters using a coded transmission."

What's a good alternative to "covert message"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "hidden communication", "secret communication", or "clandestine communication".

What is the difference between a "covert message" and a "secret message"?

While both involve secrecy, a "covert message" suggests a more elaborate attempt to conceal the message's existence, while a "secret message" simply indicates that the content is not meant for public knowledge. The nuance lies in the method of concealment.

When is it appropriate to use the term "covert message"?

Use "covert message" when the act of concealing the message itself is a key part of the communication, often implying intrigue, espionage, or other scenarios where secrecy is paramount. In less critical situations, consider using words like "private note" or "confidential memo" instead.