secretive
/si:'kritiv/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Inclined to conceal information; not open or communicative: Describes a person, behavior, or attitude that deliberately avoids revealing thoughts, feelings, or information. It implies a tendency toward secrecy or reticence.
Usage
The adjective "secretive" describes a characteristic of a person or group. It is often used to indicate a deliberate choice to be private, which can sometimes be viewed negatively as being overly closed-off, mysterious, or untrustworthy. It modifies nouns directly (e.g., a secretive person) or can be used with linking verbs (e.g., She is secretive).
Examples
- Adjective:
- He is very secretive about his personal life.
- The company has a secretive culture regarding its research projects.
- Her secretive behavior made her colleagues suspicious.
Advanced Usage
- "to be secretive about something": This is the most common construction, specifying the topic that is being kept secret.
- The government was secretive about the details of the treaty.
- Used in comparative and superlative forms: "more secretive," "most secretive."
- Of the two siblings, the older one is far more secretive.
Variants and Related Words
- Secretively (adverb): In a secretive manner.
- He answered secretively, avoiding eye contact.
- Secretiveness (noun): The quality or state of being secretive.
- His secretiveness is a barrier to building trust.
Synonyms
- Reticent: Unwilling to speak about one's thoughts or feelings. (Often less negative than "secretive.")
- Taciturn: Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
- Close-mouthed / Tight-lipped: Deliberately not saying much about something.
- Clandestine: Kept secret or done secretively, especially for illicit purposes. (More often describes activities than people.)
Antonyms
- Open: Communicative and not secretive.
- Forthcoming: Willing to divulge information.
- Transparent: Operating in a way that is easy for others to see what actions are performed; open.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To play one's cards close to one's chest: To be very secretive about one's plans or intentions.
- We don't know his strategy; he always plays his cards close to his chest.
- To keep something under wraps: To keep something secret.
- The new product design is being kept under wraps.
Adjective
-
inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information
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although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it
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