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GRE vocabulary

covert

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore C words

kept secret or concealed rather than openly acknowledged

Word origin: From Old French covert, covered.

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In a sentence

Covert in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing covert in a sentence.

The agency ran a covert operation that the public never learned about.

The agency's covert support for the rebels was revealed only decades later, when the files were declassified.

Synonyms
Antonyms
overtopenpublic
Usage & nuance

Using “covert” well

Covert means deliberately concealed and pairs with clandestine and surreptitious. It is the direct opposite of overt, a near-look-alike that means open and is a favorite GRE contrast.

Common questions

Questions about “covert

Covert (adjective) means kept secret or concealed rather than openly acknowledged
Here is covert used in an example sentence: "The agency ran a covert operation that the public never learned about." Another example: "The agency's covert support for the rebels was revealed only decades later, when the files were declassified."
Common synonyms for covert include secret, hidden, clandestine, surreptitious.
Antonyms of covert include overt, open, public.
Clusters with secret, hidden, clandestine, and surreptitious in Sentence Equivalence. Watch the trap word overt, along with open and public, as direct opposites.
Yes. Covert is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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