CLOAK-AND-DAGGER Synonyms: 15 Similar Words

cloak-and-dagger

noun

Definition of cloak-and-dagger

as in counterintelligence

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloak-and-dagger

Noun

Nazi counterintelligence was so brutal that the Germans couldn’t imagine enemy soldiers would want to get captured on purpose.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
The more promising candidates learned advanced counterintelligence and bomb-making techniques.

— Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of counterintelligence

Noun

Internationally, abandoning the norm against economic espionage may spur a spy race with other countries, China in particular.

— DAVID S. COHEN, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026
Joby filed a suit late last year alleging corporate espionage against Archer and George Kivork, a former Joby employee who left to work for Archer.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of espionage

Noun

Later that year, he was charged with wiretapping, and although authorities did not offer more details, local journalists have reported that the alleged wiretapping was meant to monitor the investigation of his mother.

— James Lasdun, New Yorker, 26 May 2026
Under the plan, FISA, which allows warrantless wiretapping of noncitizens, would be extended for three years, with new oversight guardrails and penalties for abusing the spy tool.

— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2026

Definition of wiretapping

Noun

Some requests were for DeepSeek’s technology, a finding that bolsters assertions from Congress that the company is in bed with the CCP’s military and spying apparatus.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
Twelve years after the Central Intelligence Agency initially rejected its publication, a scathing book skewers a top-secret spying program.

— Zach Dorfman, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of spying

Noun

Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said analysts from Ukraine's intelligence services, the General Staff and the Defense Ministry had assessed the strikes' effects.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
RoboParty is also expanding PartyOS to cover areas including humanoid locomotion, perception, whole-body manipulation and autonomous robot intelligence.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of intelligence

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cloak

cloak-and-dagger

cloaked

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“Cloak-and-dagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloak-and-dagger. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cloak-and-dagger

noun

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