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Furtive: meaning, example and synonyms

Furtiveadj. Secretive and stealthy, as if trying to avoid notice.

Flashcard for Furtive (adjective): secretive and stealthy, as if trying to avoid notice. Example: The ethologist noted the young fox's furtive glances toward the campsite, a wariness suggesting it had learned to associate humans with danger. Synonyms: stealthy, sneaky, surreptitious, covert. Antonyms: open, overt, brazen, unconcealed. Memory tip: Furtive = like a ferret: quick, sly, hiding. Illustration: a young red fox peeking out from behind a fern, glancing sideways at a quiet campsite where a person in a jacket sits reading.

Example

The ethologist noted the young fox's furtive glances toward the campsite, a wariness suggesting it had learned to associate humans with danger.

Part of speech
adjective
Synonyms
stealthy, sneaky, surreptitious, covert
Antonyms
open, overt, brazen, unconcealed
Memory tip
Furtive = like a ferret: quick, sly, hiding.

Furtive is in batch 17. Study it with the rest of the batch, then pass the batch quiz to learn it. No account needed; progress is saved on this device.

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Check yourself: Furtive in context

Pick the word that best completes each text.

Question 1

The pickpocket's ______ movements went unnoticed in the crowded station until an alert guard spotted him slipping a wallet into his sleeve.

Question 2

During the exam, the proctor noticed one student's ______ glances at a classmate's paper and quietly moved him to a seat at the front of the room.

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