cloak-and-dagger

adjective

cloak-and-dag·​ger ˈklōk-ən(d)-ˈda-gər How to pronounce cloak-and-dagger (audio)
Synonyms of cloak-and-daggernext
: dealing in or suggestive of melodramatic intrigue and action usually involving secret agents and espionage
a cloak-and-dagger novel
cloak-and-dagger noun

Examples of cloak-and-dagger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This spy thriller's title isn't a cheeky play on words or clever pun tied to its cloak-and-dagger action. — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026 But the cloak-and-dagger operation doesn’t go as Scanlon planned. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026 And to win that support, Springfield must break with the cloak-and-dagger machinations and engage the public. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025 The audition was super-secret, really cloak-and-dagger. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cloak-and-dagger

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cloak-and-dagger was in 1860

Rhymes for cloak-and-dagger

See All Rhymes for cloak-and-dagger

Browse Nearby Words

cloak
cloak-and-dagger
cloak-and-sword
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cloak-and-dagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloak-and-dagger. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cloak-and-dagger

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cloak-and-dagger

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All