PRIVATELY Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

privately

adverb

Definition of privately

as in secretly

in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others she confided to me privately that she was considering divorce

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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 privately Christie’s privately sold Van Gogh’s Zouave (1888) for roughly $190 million and offered two Paul Signac paintings from the collection last November. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Democrats have wondered, most privately out of a desire not to offend Blumenthal, if Bronin’s run against Larson offered a template for someone to similarly challenge the senator. — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2026 The teenager told investigators Anderson said the drawing would take about an hour, could be done privately and would involve a nude body sketch. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026 Campgrounds, both those that are part of state parks and those that are privately operated, have been evacuated as well, Daniels said. — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 Fauci, clearly, privately believed that some of these issues necessitated investigation. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Shortly after, Detroit police reported that a third gunshot victim had been privately taken to DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital and arrived several minutes after the shooting occurred at Hidden Gem. — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Interviews with the candidates were held privately, which the state’s Open Meetings Act allows for personnel discussions. — Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Hence privy to means privately informed, while privy for a toilet comes from the idea of a private place. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for privately

Adverb

In the criminal case, federal prosecutors confirmed — and the defense admitted — that Hart secretly recorded minors through spyware installed on laptop computers and directed children overseas to produce child pornography.

— Sean Emery, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2026
The suit alleges that his relatives secretly shifted away assets and dissolved a three-decades-old sister company without his permission, stripping him of economic benefits.

— Kirk Ogunrinde, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of secretly

Adverb

The company confidentially filed its prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June, but hasn’t disclosed an official timeline for its debut.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
SpaceX priced one of the largest IPOs in history this summer, and both OpenAI and Anthropic have confidentially filed paperwork with the SEC, each racing to be the first pure play AI company to trade publicly.

— Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026