All Words
Friday, January 2, 2026
Word of the Day

clandestine

adjective

Kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit or unauthorized; characterized by stealth and secrecy.

Advanced - Used in formal or literary contexts

Etymology

From Latin clandestinus meaning "secret, hidden," from clam (secretly) with the suffix -destinus indicating a state or condition.

Examples in Use

  • 1.

    "The spies held clandestine meetings in the basement of the old library."

  • 2.

    "Their clandestine romance was eventually discovered by her family."

  • 3.

    "The organization operated a clandestine radio station during the occupation."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

secretcovertfurtivesurreptitioushidden

Related Words

espionageundergroundconspiracystealth

Fun Fact

During World War II, the British Special Operations Executive conducted clandestine operations across occupied Europe, famously instructing agents to "set Europe ablaze" through sabotage and resistance support.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 11 letters (C, L, A, N, D, E, S, T, I, N, E)

Scrabble Value: 14 points

Tip: Try building from common prefixes or suffixes when you spot these letters.

Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!

Ready to find words like "clandestine" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!