CLOAK-AND-DAGGER Synonyms: 15 Similar Words

cloak-and-dagger

noun

Definition of cloak-and-dagger

as in counterintelligence

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloak-and-dagger

Noun

The center brings together counterterrorism, cyber, counterintelligence and financial investigators and specialists from the Treasury Department and IRS to trace funding streams, identify criminal actors and build prosecutable cases.

— Asra Q. Nomani , Morgan Phillips, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
LaCroix has taught a variety of subjects including cybercrime, counterterrorism, critical infrastructure protection, intelligence, counterintelligence and Homeland Security legal and policy Issues.

— Hunter LaCroix, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2026

Definition of counterintelligence

Noun

The latest firings included experts in counterespionage matters.

— Perry Stein, Arkansas Online, 28 Feb. 2026
The employee filed the complaint with the division director, Robert Turner, a 22-year veteran of the bureau who previously held roles in counterterrorism and counterespionage.

— William Turton, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2025

Definition of counterespionage

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

As a result, stories revealing the NSA’s mass spying tactics were published in The Guardian, The Washington Post and other outlets around the world.

— Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
In March, two Democrats and two Republicans opposed to the law’s broad spying authority introduced a bill to limit the government’s ability to obtain Americans’ private communications without a warrant.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026

Definition of spying

Noun

Bobbi Queen, a former senior fashion editor at WWD who was known for her intelligence, wit and sense of style, died Thursday at her New York apartment at the age of 84.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Autonomy with human oversight Artificial intelligence handles much of CobraJet’s flight through an autonomous autopilot supported by electro-optical and infrared cameras.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 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 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of cloak-and-dagger

noun

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