furtive
/'fə:tiv/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Secret and sly or sordid: Done in a secretive, stealthy, or sneaky manner, often suggesting shame or guilt.
- Marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed: Characterized by a quiet, cautious, and hidden approach to avoid notice.
Usage
The word "furtive" describes actions, glances, or behavior that are deliberately secretive because the person does not want to be seen or noticed. It often implies that the action is suspicious, guilty, or illicit. It is used to modify nouns directly (e.g., a furtive glance) or in predicate position (e.g., His behavior was furtive).
Examples
- Adjective:
- She cast a furtive glance over her shoulder to see if anyone was following her.
- The spy's furtive movements allowed him to pass through the crowd unnoticed.
- There was something furtive about his behavior, as if he were hiding a secret.
Advanced Usage
- "furtive whisper": A secretive, hushed conversation meant to avoid being overheard.
- They exchanged furtive whispers in the corner of the room.
- "furtive attempt": A sly or secret try at doing something.
- He made a furtive attempt to pocket the pen when he thought no one was looking.
Variants and Related Words
- Furtively (adverb): In a secretive, stealthy manner.
- He looked around furtively before entering the building.
- Furtiveness (noun): The quality or state of being furtive.
- The furtiveness of his actions raised our suspicions.
Synonyms
- Stealthy: Done in a cautious and surreptitious manner to avoid detection.
- Sly: Acting in a secret, often cunning, way to deceive.
- Sneaky: Behaving in a secret and dishonest way.
- Surreptitious: Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
- Clandestine: Kept secret or done secretively, especially for illicit purposes.
Antonyms
- Open: Done or shown without concealment.
- Overt: Done or shown openly; not secret or hidden.
- Bold: Confident and courageous, often without attempt to hide.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Like a thief in the night": This idiom conveys a similar sense of secretive, stealthy movement, though it is not a direct phrase using "furtive."
- He left the party like a thief in the night, without saying goodbye to anyone.
Adjective
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secret and sly or sordid
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backstairs gossip
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his low backstairs cunning- A.L.Guerard
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backstairs intimacies
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furtive behavior
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marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
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a furtive manner
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a sneak attack
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stealthy footsteps
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a surreptitious glance at his watch
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