BEHIND THE SCENES Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

behind-the-scenes

adjective

bi-ˈhīnd-ṯẖə-ˈsēnz

Definition of behind-the-scenes

as in confidential

not known or meant to be known by the general populace a tell-all book about the behind-the-scenes negotiations that got him the vice presidential nomination

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in clandestine

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others behind-the-scenes negotiations that resulted in the hostages being released unharmed

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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 behind-the-scenes Neither opening-weekend grosses nor behind-the-scenes price tags can settle these films’ respective profitability right now. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026 Apple Music’s Patient Zero (Video Bundle) features the song, the original music video and an eight-minute behind-the-scenes version of the video. — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2026 All the officials were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity about the behind-the-scenes diplomatic negotiations. — Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026 Below, Acielle Tanbetova takes us through the best behind-the-scenes moments from the spring 2027 shows in Paris. — Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for behind-the-scenes

Recent Examples of Synonyms for behind-the-scenes

Adjective

Confidential sources Rahmer acknowledged in his testimony that there are limits to knowing who is a confidential informant or working for agencies outside the FBI.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
His case was also shared with the local district attorney, who has the authority to prosecute misuse of confidential governmental data, but the district attorney declined to pursue criminal charges, the audit said.

— Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of confidential

Adjective

Bridgers’ tour restricts phones, so the reader’s account had to stand in for the clandestine photo that might otherwise have accompanied the sighting.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
The Soviet Union operated an extensive clandestine biological weapons program despite being a party to the Biological Weapons Convention.

— Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of clandestine

Adjective

If location isn’t all-important to you, you’ll still be taken in by the property’s palatial restaurant, secret garden above the bustling street, and relaxing pool—undoubtedly one of the longest in Lisbon.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Bridgers first shared the new material in May at a club in New Mexico, kicking off a series of phone-free, secret pop-up shows at smaller venues across the country that culminated with Madison Square Garden in New York on June 4.

— Christine Werthman, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of secret

Adjective

Some of us live in Chicago and are well aware of the lore of the Mirage Tavern, a real bar that undercover reporters operated in the 1970s to expose corruption in the city.

— Jodi S. Cohen, ProPublica, 5 Oct. 2026
Investigators also said Ellaboudy advised an undercover FBI confidential human source posing as a representative of a Houthi colonel.

— Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of undercover

Adjective

The dining room has 28 seats, a private event space holds 10, and the menu proposes just three Milanese and Lombardian dishes for each of the antipasti, primi, and secondi courses (four for dessert).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Mercury in your 4th House quincunxes Saturn in your 9th, creating a mismatch between private realities and bigger plans involving travel, education, beliefs, or the future.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of private

Adjective

There has been serious buzz recently about the film series focused on the United States conducting covert actions against drug cartels.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Flashbacks to recent events reveal that the townspeople never let Hal find peace, and even firebombed his home, only for a grown-up Noah — Kerry’s son, and Zoe’s grandson — to save him and regenerate his skin using Zoe’s covert alien tech.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of covert

Adjective

The dehumanization of Black people represented by the persistence of Confederate iconography in mainstream culture became an underground signifier of the precariousness of the freedoms enshrined by the 14th Amendment.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Much has been written about the sprawling compounds of tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg, whose 1,400-acre Kauai property includes plans for a 5,000-square-foot underground shelter.

— Megan Buerger, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of underground

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behinds

behind-the-scenes

behold

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“Behind-the-scenes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behind-the-scenes. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of behind-the-scenes

adjective

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