STEALTHY (stealthier, stealthiest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: stealthier    , stealthiest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stealthy mean? 

• STEALTHY (adjective)
  The adjective STEALTHY has 1 sense:

1. marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed

  Familiarity information: STEALTHY used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STEALTHY (adjective)

Comparative: stealthier   
Superlative: stealthiest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed

Synonyms:

furtive; sneak; sneaky; stealthy; surreptitious

Context example:

a surreptitious glance at his watch

Similar:

concealed (hidden on any grounds for any motive)

Derivation:

stealth (avoiding detection by moving carefully)

stealthiness (a disposition to be sly and stealthy and to do things surreptitiously)

 Context examples 

He resumed his unpleasant and stealthy advance, pointing his toes as he walked, like a dancing master.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A low, stealthy sound came to my ears, not from the direction of Baker Street, but from the back of the very house in which we lay concealed.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The west-countryman smiled, and shook himself like a dog from the water as with a stealthy step he came back to the centre of the ring, where his man was still standing.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You have done a stealthy and unbecoming action, Mr. Copperfield.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Full into the firelight, with a stealthy, sidelong movement, glided a doglike animal.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I remembered with confusion my insubordinate and stealthy conduct, and when I saw where it had brought me—among what companions and surrounded by what dangers—I felt ashamed to look him in the face.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Jock Horner and Smoke alone were unabashed, stealing stealthy glances at her now and again, and even taking part in the conversation.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A stealthy glance now and then refreshed her like sips of fresh water after a dusty walk, for the sidelong peeps showed her several propitious omens.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Another instant and the great stealthy hands would have been round my throat.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In this way we should be able to watch our man if he struck a light, and see what his object was in this stealthy nocturnal visit.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)