discreetly
adv.in a way that is careful not to attract attention or cause embarrassment. You do something this way when you want to keep it private or quiet.
adv.in a manner that avoids attracting notice or causing offense, often to maintain privacy or secrecy.
“She discreetly checked her phone under the table.”
“The waiter discreetly informed the guest that their credit card had been declined to avoid making a scene.”
“Throughout the negotiations, the diplomat worked discreetly behind the scenes to ensure that both parties felt their core concerns were being addressed without public scrutiny.”
Typically follows the verb it modifies or the direct object.
Learners often confuse 'discreetly' (carefully/quietly) with 'discretely' (separately/individually).
“I did it discreetly, careful not to disturb the family sleeping nearby.”
From discreet + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.