private

adjective

ˈprī-vət How to pronounce private (audio)
Definition of privatenext
1
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace that he is planning to retire is private information until he makes a public announcement

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others a private investigation of the organization's activities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person club lockers in which private property may be stored

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of private The tsunami of public and private debt as well as the competition for investor demand have put upward pressure on yields, which adds to interest costs and the federal deficit. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026 Debris from Ukrainian drones also fell on two enterprises and a private home in the Russian city of Novorossiysk, mayor Andrey Kravchenko said on Sunday. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 In the Sacred Relics Room, visitors can view the Prophet Muhammad’s cloak and sword, while the Harem is located the sultan's private quarters. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026 Some users skip ads, but most public and private measures suggest that the vast majority of listeners catch at least some of them. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for private
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private
  1. confidential
  2. clandestine
  3. personal
  4. secret
  5. undercover
  6. personalized
  7. underground
  8. subjective
Adjective
  • Imagine if legal issues, confidential complaints, private stakeholders and so on were mentioned or included.
    — Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The plane had transported the ammunition from France to Germany and was due for onward travel, according to a report from Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR, citing a confidential police report.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of confidential
Adjective
  • In reality, the clandestine operation meant that, for a portion of time, the President’s real whereabouts were seemingly unknown to—and concealed from—the White House press pool.
    — Tiago Ventura, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Mexican authorities have dismantled well over a thousand clandestine drug laboratories, seized enormous quantities of narcotics and fentanyl pills, arrested thousands of cartel operatives, and extradited major criminal figures to the United States.
    — Chris Shays, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • Both are a complete overhaul of their long-haul cabins, featuring seat heating, seat cooling and personal climate controls.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The Fireplace Shangri-la room is your own personal retreat, complete with an oversized soaking tub (big enough for even a tall girl like myself to enjoy) and separate shower.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of personal
Adjective
  • Terry drives him home on an exclusive secret road between Beverly Hills and the Valley (the only other people who Terry knows have the gate code are Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty) but pulls over to a scenic viewpoint on the way.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The secret mission was carried out without the knowledge of members of the press traveling with the president and even some White House officials who were still aboard the old traditional Air Force One.
    — Isabella Murray, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of secret
Adjective
  • The victim eventually agreed to pay the $22,450 to an unkown man posing as an undercover law enforcement officer In the parking lot of a Marathon grocery store, according to the sheriff's office.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Barnes did not disclose the online platforms used for the operation, saying that withholding the information is necessary to protect undercover operations like Operation Cyber Shield in other jurisdictions.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • Polite and attentive, the expert service across the staff—from the front desk team to the groundskeepers—prioritizes the personalized guest experience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In a unique adaptation of a traditional ceremony, the bridal party reinterpreted the seven blessings by reciting their own personalized blessing for the couple.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of personalized
Adjective
  • These events occur when extremely hot underground water suddenly turns into steam, expands, and blasts apart the surrounding rock.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • By the time Irv and Kath met, the Oberbach Corporation was ankle-deep in concrete, middle-manning the cheap Chinese labor the city needed to build its demonic underground highway along the river.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of underground
Adjective
  • The effects of magnesium supplementation on subjective anxiety and stress-a systematic review.
    — Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2026
  • One group got no special instructions, while the other was told to actively find moments of awe on their walk, seeking out novelty, tapping into wonder, and noticing the vastness of things, even in their own neighborhood—all subjective, of course.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of subjective

Phrases Containing private

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privacy
private
private detective
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Cite this Entry

“Private.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on private

Nglish: Translation of private for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about private

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