furtive

USAGE SUMMARY

'furtive' is an acceptable word in written English.
'Furtive' is an adjective meaning "done in a way that is intended to avoid observation; stealthy". For example, you can use 'furtive' in a sentence like this: "He stole a glance around the room, before making a furtive grab for the last slice of pizza."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Agreeing that their escape was sudden, after what had been a wonderful camping holiday in Italy, he recalled their furtive journey.

The Guardian

All right, so we don't know that it is a rat – having watched the clip several times, we now concede that the furtive, tailed creature may in fact be a mouse.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Her seemingly artless daubs tend to leak out on to the walls like furtive murals and – accompanied by photographic, sculptural and written fragments – leave a treasure trail of mysterious clues, adding up to some highly cultured misbehaviour.

The Guardian - Arts

Selfie in front of strangers There is no shame like the shame of being caught taking a furtive selfie.

The Guardian - Tech

In this way, far from being the porny antichrist, GOT is merely the tragic modern-day equivalent of what used to be furtive peeks at the bras section of the likes of Kay's catalogue.

The Guardian - Opinion

Calles, he wrote, "is an impressive man with black small eyes that never stay still, a furtive look; heavy shoulders and powerful jaw.

The Guardian - Opinion

No doubt, as in other countries, furtive lobbying would continue to take place outside the formal system, but at least it would provide a legitimate, regulated route for businesses to make their case to government.Whether government is willing to listen is another question.

The Economist

It pointed ahead to a life in which furtive sex and fleeting assignations might be attainable, but the enduring security and companionship of marriage would be forever out of reach.

The Economist

"I don't mind the immigrants, to be honest," he said, lowering his voice to a furtive whisper.

The Economist

Furtive meetings with those analysts and opposition politicians who dared to talk to me were had to be confined to out-of-the-way venues.

The Economist

Now she walked more deliberately, but with a bone-handled carving knife ready in her pocket.Friends often detected something furtive about her.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions, pair "furtive" with verbs that suggest movement or glances, such as "furtive glance", "furtive step", or "furtive exchange" to enhance the image of secrecy.

Common error

Avoid using "furtive" when you simply mean "private" or "personal". "Furtive" implies a degree of guilt, suspicion, or an intent to conceal wrongdoing, not just privacy.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "furtive" primarily functions as an attributive adjective, modifying nouns to describe the manner in which an action is performed. It signifies that the action is carried out in a stealthy or secretive way, often with the intention of avoiding detection, as evidenced by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Encyclopedias

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "furtive" is a versatile adjective employed to depict actions characterized by stealth and secrecy, often implying a degree of guilt or a desire to avoid detection. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and enjoys frequent usage across various contexts. While synonyms like "surreptitious" and "clandestine" exist, "furtive" distinguishes itself by specifically conveying a sense of underlying suspicion. Ludwig confirms the word is appropriate in various context and situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surreptitious

Emphasizes the hidden or secret nature of the action, often implying disapproval.

clandestine

Suggests an activity done secretly, often because it is illegal or forbidden.

covert

Highlights the concealed or disguised aspect of the action, often in a strategic context.

stealthy

Focuses on the quiet and careful movement to avoid detection.

secretive

Indicates a tendency to keep things hidden or private.

underhand

Suggests dishonesty and unfairness in the secrecy.

secret

A broad term indicating something kept hidden or unknown.

guarded

Implies caution and restraint in revealing information or actions.

backhanded

Suggests indirectness and often a negative or critical intention.

sly

Implies cunning and deception in the secret action.

FAQs

How can I use "furtive" in a sentence?

You can use "furtive" to describe actions done secretly or stealthily to avoid being noticed. For instance, "He cast a "furtive glance" over his shoulder" or "They exchanged "furtive whispers" in the corner".

What words are similar to "furtive"?

Synonyms for "furtive" include "surreptitious", "covert", "stealthy", and "clandestine". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "furtive" a formal or informal word?

"Furtive" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal word. It's appropriate for both news reporting and academic writing, but it might sound overly dramatic in very casual conversation.

What's the difference between "furtive" and "secret"?

"Secret" simply means something is hidden or not known. "Furtive" implies an attempt to avoid being noticed because the action is somehow wrong or could cause trouble. A "secret meeting" might just be private, but a "furtive meeting" suggests something suspicious is going on.