What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
secretively
Example
She looked around secretively before whispering the news to me. [secretively: adverb]
Example
He acted secretively when he thought no one was watching him. [secretively: adverb]
surreptitiously
Example
She surreptitiously took a cookie from the jar when no one was looking. [surreptitiously: adverb]
Example
He surreptitiously slipped the document into his bag before leaving the room. [surreptitiously: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Secretively is more commonly used than surreptitiously in everyday language.
Whatβs the difference in the tone of formality between secretively and surreptitiously?
Surreptitiously is more formal and less commonly used than secretively.
