furtive

Definition of furtive

sneaky or secretive, especially due to guilt

Synonyms for furtive

• surreptitious

furtive in a Sentence

1. The student gave a furtive glance to his neighbor's paper during the exam.

Why furtive Matters for GRE & SAT

"furtive" is a adjective that means "sneaky or secretive, especially due to guilt" related to "surreptitious". As a word starting with F, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "furtive" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "furtive" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (adjective). Then learn its 1 synonym to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "furtive" into long-term memory.

How to Remember furtive

To remember "furtive" (adjective), pair it with its synonym "surreptitious" and picture a situation where both words apply. This creates a mental link: when you see "furtive" in a reading passage, you immediately think "surreptitious" and recall the meaning.

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "furtive" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

More Vocabulary Words Starting with F

• fabricate — invent in order to deceive
• facetious — treating serious issues with inappropriate humor
• facilitate — To make an action or process easier
• facilitate — To make an action or process easier
• factious — causing division or disagreement
• factor — A circumstance or element that contributes to a result
• factor — A circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result
• fallacious — false or mistaken
• fallacy — A mistaken belief based on unsound reasoning
• fallible — capable of making an error