stealth
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the quality of moving or acting quietly and secretly so that you are not seen or heard.
n.the attribute of acting with extreme secrecy or caution to avoid detection. Uncountable in this sense.
Simple“The cat used stealth to creep up on the bird without making a sound.”
In context“The success of the operation depended entirely on stealth, as any premature detection by the guards would have compromised the entire mission.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.designed to be very difficult for radar or other sensors to detect.
adj.relating to technology that reduces the radar cross-section or infrared signature of a vehicle or craft.
Simple“The military uses stealth aircraft that can fly into enemy territory without being seen on radar.”
In context“Engineers focused on the unique angular geometry of the stealth bomber to ensure it remained invisible to conventional long-range tracking systems.”
Synonymslow observablehidden - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.done in a secret way, often without people knowing the true purpose.
adj.surreptitious or not openly acknowledged; often describes marketing or social behaviors.
Simple“The company used a stealth marketing campaign by paying people to talk about the product in cafes.”
In context“The legislation was introduced through a stealth tactic, buried deep within a larger, unrelated budget bill to avoid public debate.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to move very quietly and carefully to avoid being noticed.
v.to move or proceed using stealthy maneuvers. Often used intransitively in gaming or tactical contexts.
Simple“In the video game, you have to stealth past the guards to reach the treasure.”
In context“The player managed to stealth through the entire level without triggering a single alarm or engaging in combat.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to secretly remove a condom during sex without the partner's permission.
v.to engage in the act of removing a prophylactic during sexual intercourse without the partner's knowledge or consent.
Simple“He was arrested after his partner discovered he had decided to stealth her during their encounter.”
In context“Legal scholars argue that to stealth a partner constitutes a fundamental violation of consent and should be prosecuted as a serious offense.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb and is considered a criminal offense in many jurisdictions.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly sensitive and modern legal term; use with extreme caution as it describes a form of sexual assault.
From Middle English stelthe, from Old English stǣlþ, from Proto-Germanic stēliþō, to Proto-Germanic stelaną (“to steal, to sneak”) + *-iþō, equivalent to steal + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Compare Old English stalu (“theft, stealth”), Old High German stāla (“theft”), German Diebstahl (“theft”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.