covert
Done or kept in secret so that other people do not see or know about it.
Not openly acknowledged, displayed, or carried out; done or existing in secret or in a hidden way.
An area of thick bushes or small trees where animals can hide or find shelter.
A thick area of bushes or low trees that provides shelter or a hiding place for animals, especially game.
A small feather on a bird that sits over the base of the big wing or tail feathers, like a cover.
Any of the small feathers that cover the base of the larger primary or secondary feathers on a bird's wing or tail.
- Base: covert
- Base: covert
- Plural: coverts
covert action
1secret state-backed activity abroad
A secret activity by a government in another country, planned so that the government can deny that it did it.
- The committee was created to oversee all covert action conducted overseas.
- Critics argued that the covert action violated international law.
covert narcissist
1person showing hidden narcissism
A person who is very self-focused and needs admiration, but shows this in quiet, indirect, or self-pitying ways instead of loudly and openly.
- The podcast episode explains how to recognize a covert narcissist in a relationship.
- A covert narcissist may act shy or sensitive while still needing constant attention.
covert ops
1informal term for secret operations
An informal way to say 'covert operations', meaning secret military or spy actions.
- He used to work in covert ops for the navy.
- The movie follows a team of covert ops behind enemy lines.
covert racism
1hidden or indirect racist behavior
Racism that is not open or direct, but is shown in hidden or subtle ways.
- The article explains how covert racism appears in hiring decisions.
- Many people say they oppose racism, but covert racism still affects daily life.
covert surveillance
1secret watching or recording of people
Watching or recording people in secret, without them knowing, for the police, security, or other reasons.
- The police carried out covert surveillance of the suspects for several weeks.
- New laws limit the use of covert surveillance in public spaces.
covert operation
1secret planned military or spy action
A planned military, spy, or political action that is done in secret so that people do not know who is behind it.
- They carried out a covert operation to gather intelligence.
- They authorized a covert operation to gather intelligence inside the country.
- The covert operation was revealed by journalists.
- The book reveals several covert operations carried out during the war.
- Congress demanded to know who had approved the covert operation.