Secrets are not a new aspect of any long-standing society or any individual above adolescence. Any active society has both individual and collective secrets that they all have to hide away from the public.
A side of the government, a habit, a hobby, information that is sensitive and could be used in ways to both build and sabotage them, etc.
Hiding things, keeping secrets, it is pretty natural to hide aspects of oneself that one would not want the public to see.
But here is the question, what exactly would you call someone who does this kind of thing a lot? Let us find out.
20 Words for Someone Who Hides Secrets
Depending on who is involved, there are many ways to refer to a person who seems to have a life veiled in mystery, and whose mood is hard to read and decipher due to all the things such a person might have going on in their head.
In this article, we take a look at a list of 20 words for someone who hides secrets, which include:
- Secretive
- Mysterious
- Enigmatic
- Covert
- Reticent
- Reserved
- Stealthy
- Inscrutable
- Clandestine
- Taciturn
- Furtive
- Shady
- Elusive
- Silent
- Private
- Enshrouded
- Shifty
- Surreptitious
- Schemer
- Obscurantist
Points To Remember
- A person who is mostly vague so as not to get out the truth is an “Obscurantist”
- A person who hides most of their operations “Clandestine”
- A naturally quiet person that is not much for small talk is “Taciturn“
1. Secretive
A person who is usually set on hiding things, keeping things cryptic like an old sailor with his treasure maps, can be referred to as secretive.
A secretive person is seen as mysterious because they know a lot and they never let anyone know.
You can easily tell a person who is secretive by how they move, how careful they are when they speak, and how they regard you. They are eagerly on the lookout for more information.
2. Mysterious
When you describe someone as mysterious it has a thing for keeping him or herself, hiding their plans, and keeping everything about them on a low.
Mysterious people hide secrets about themselves and they have this quiet air about them that makes people intrigued to know everything going on about them.
A mysterious person prioritizes privacy and is careful of whom he or she trusts and it can be very difficult to get close to a mysterious person.
3. Enigmatic
An enigmatic individual is often characterized by their cryptic nature, which can make it quite challenging to understand their thoughts, emotions, or intentions.
This inherent air of mystery allows them to effectively keep secrets hidden. They maintain a reserved demeanor keeping their self and personal details concealed from others.
By being restrained and not readily sharing their thoughts or feelings they create an air of uncertainty around them.
This sense of enigma makes it difficult for others to decipher what they might be hiding thereby strengthening their ability to protect their secrets and maintain control over the information they choose to reveal.
4. Covert
A covert individual is someone who operates discreetly ensuring their actions and intentions remain hidden, from the prying eyes of others.
This inclination for behavior stems from their skill in safeguarding secrets. They carefully handle information, often preferring to stay out of the spotlight and maintain a profile.
This does not reduce the risk of exposure or discovery. Also provides them with a sense of control over what they choose to disclose.
By keeping their actions and intentions concealed they create an aura of secrecy around themselves making it challenging for others to uncover the secrets they protect thus reinforcing their ability to maintain privacy.
5. Reticent
Another name for someone who hides secrets is a reticent person. Reticent people are this way because of how little they communicate. They do not share much because they like to keep quiet.
They are seen as shy and their demeanor can make someone think of them as bashful.
Reticent people may look unaware but they know a lot and guard secrets with their restraint on communication. Most reticent people are introverted and reserved.
6. Reserved
When a person is considered reserved, it would mean that while such a person is not actively trying to hide things or keep secrets, said person might be more on the quiet side and enjoy seclusion. When people don’t talk too much, they tend not to let things slip so easily.
The good thing about being reserved is that one does not even need to lie or face conflict, as they are very easily overlooked when questions pertaining to hidden matters are being asked. This word fits well with the nature of these folks.
7. Stealthy
A stealthy individual is someone who acts with care and secrecy often going unnoticed or undetected.
This trait is in line with their skill, in concealing secrets as they can quietly handle information and activities to keep details hidden while minimizing the chances of being uncovered.
8. Inscrutable
Some people are really good at keeping their thoughts and emotions hidden. They have this aura about them that makes it hard to figure out what they’re thinking or feeling.
This ability to be ambiguous makes them great at keeping secrets as it keeps others guessing and unsure.
They are careful about what they share and by not showing emotion they maintain control over their personal information and protect their privacy.
9. Clandestine
A clandestine person is someone who hides secrets in a planned and organized manner. These types of people are involved in so many hidden or concealed things. They keep things close to him and don’t reveal them to anyone.
Although not all the time, more often than not, the activities of a clandestine person are illegal or wrong. They do not agree with social norms hence the secret to their activities.
They are however very organized people that can easily clean their tracks and get away with things.
10. Taciturn
Someone who is naturally quiet and reserved is more likely to keep secrets. Their hesitation to engage in conversation makes it easier for them to hide information as they tend to share only minimal details.
This reserved behavior reflects their desire for privacy and the ability to maintain control over the secrets they choose to disclose.
11. Furtive
A furtive person is characterized by their secretive and stealthy behavior, often concealing their actions and intentions.
This inclination toward furtiveness is closely related to their ability to effectively hide secrets. They excel at managing sensitive information discreetly, operating in a covert manner that avoids drawing attention.
Their subtle and sly approach not only minimizes the risk of exposure but also allows them to maintain control over what they choose to reveal.
Furtive individuals create an atmosphere of intrigue and suspicion around them, making it challenging for others to discern the secrets they guard. Their secretive nature serves as a protective shield for their privacy.
12. Shady
“Shady” is a word for describing people who are more inclined to hide things and keep secrets than share them. Those classified with this term are usually seen as suspicious.
They just seem like they would fit the role of someone who could get into trouble.
These are people who actively try to hide things, mostly because they have some things to hide. Regardless of how you ask them, they would not want to answer any queries that they consider secret.
13. Elusive
Some individuals have a knack for hiding their identity, making them skilled at keeping secrets. Their elusive behavior involves avoiding inquiries and cultivating an air of intrigue which helps them safeguard information.
Elusiveness can be seen as a tactic to preserve privacy and have control over what’s disclosed. So this name is fitting for a secret keeper.
14. Silent
“Silence is the best answer”, an old saying that some folks take as a rule of thumb for their day-to-day engagements with matters pertaining to sensitive information. They just will not talk.
Referring to someone as silent means it usually does not matter whether or not it is private information, they just would not want to share theirs.
Now the silent ones manifest in one of two categories. They are either silent because they want to, or because they have to. Either by choice or by force. But this is a fitting title for secret keepers.
15. Private
A private person is someone who highly values personal boundaries, discretion, and autonomy. They tend to keep their personal life and information to themselves, selectively sharing what they choose. This proclivity for privacy often relates to their ability to hide secrets.
Private individuals are skilled at safeguarding sensitive information, as they prioritize maintaining control over what is disclosed.
Their preference for a small, trusted circle of friends and reluctance to draw attention aids in concealing secrets effectively.
Being a private person isn’t necessarily about deceit; rather, it’s a desire to preserve personal space and autonomy, which aligns with their talent for keeping secrets hidden.
16. Enshrouded
For a person to be seen as “Enshrouded”, it means that such a person intentionally puts up an air of mystery around them to keep them in the background.
They want no part in the spotlight on a regular day, much less having things they consider secret even about another person, to come out because of them.
Using the term “Enshrouded” as a way to describe a person who hides things is very normal.
17. Shifty
Similar to “Shady”— another word on this list—but with a more creepy undertone, shifty people are more on the spectrum of untrustworthy.
Their behavior always seems as though they are into something sinister or criminal. And they mostly are, hence the shifty behavior.
Naturally, a person mostly involved with devious plots would not want to talk much lest they spill more than would be safe for them.
18. Surreptitious
A secretive individual possesses the ability to hide information and activities, from others frequently engaging in behavior.
This allows them to effectively keep secrets by controlling what they reveal and maintaining a concealed aspect of their life.
19. Schemer
A schemer is a person who hides secrets for his advantage. Usually, schemers have a plan or goal that they hope to achieve but the means to accomplish it may not be straightforward, hence they conceal their agendas to get an advantage and easily go ahead with whatever they have hidden.
Schemers are not very honest and most times, if you are in a schemer’s plan you are either an accomplice or a victim. If your secret is with a schemer, you might be in trouble.
20. Obscurantist
An obscurantist is a person who prevents the dissemination and spread of information. They work actively against the sharing of knowledge so that people are left ignorant and in a place of vagueness.
They do this to have control and power. When people do not know certain things, it is to their advantage.
While it is not an obscurantist’s main goal to hide secrets, they unconsciously do that through their restriction of knowledge.
You can call them secret hiders if in hoarding information, they hide the secret you don’t want to be exposed.
Final Words
Secret keeping can be exciting and fun sometimes, but quite intense and full of pressure at other times. It is of course important that secrets that are kept are those that are better kept hidden.
Hiding things that are more useful when put out in the open, can cause the situation to escalate or cause even the reason you are trying to hide it, to get worse.
And with the list above, you now have a good few words you could use to describe a person who has a few cats in the bag or skeletons in the cupboard – proverbially speaking.
And remember, things that are not meant to be hidden, will eventually come out to the open, no matter how one tries to hide them. Sometimes in ways one would never expect.
