cloak-and-dagger
adjective
cloak-and-dag·ger
ˈklōk-ən(d)-ˈda-gər 
: 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
The situation included threats of physical harm and cloak-and-dagger tactics to undermine each other’s efforts.
—
Devon O’Neil, Outside Online, 23 Apr. 2019
Octopussy is a classic cloak-and-dagger nail-biter about a scheme by a rogue Russian general (Steven Berkoff) to detonate a nuke on an American military base in Germany.
—Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 29 May 2024
The criteria for official status as a combattant privileged cloak-and-dagger activities like gathering information, sabotaging rail lines, printing clandestine newspapers, or assisting the escape of Jewish and foreign refugees.
—Robert Zaretsky, Foreign Affairs, 23 Aug. 2019
Best Nightlife Cloakroom Bar The 25-seat Cloakroom Bar, with a cloak-and-dagger atmosphere, was named Canada’s second-best bar in 2023.
—Elizabeth Warkentin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2024
Nicole Tung—The New York Times/Redux In the months since Karp’s cloak-and-dagger first meeting with Zelensky, Palantir brass have fallen into a familiar routine on their frequent trips into Ukraine.
—TIME, 8 Feb. 2024
But there was nothing cloak-and-dagger about their interactions.
—Jimmy Soni, IEEE Spectrum, 12 July 2017
Indiana probably needs more than a cloak-and-dagger quarterback approach to tighten the 29.5-point spread for Saturday’s game.
—Nathan Baird, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2023
People close to Gagosian have sometimes been taken aback by his cloak-and-dagger tradecraft.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 24 July 2023
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.
Devon O’Neil, Outside Online, 23 Apr. 2019
Octopussy is a classic cloak-and-dagger nail-biter about a scheme by a rogue Russian general (Steven Berkoff) to detonate a nuke on an American military base in Germany.
—Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 29 May 2024
The criteria for official status as a combattant privileged cloak-and-dagger activities like gathering information, sabotaging rail lines, printing clandestine newspapers, or assisting the escape of Jewish and foreign refugees.
—Robert Zaretsky, Foreign Affairs, 23 Aug. 2019
Best Nightlife Cloakroom Bar The 25-seat Cloakroom Bar, with a cloak-and-dagger atmosphere, was named Canada’s second-best bar in 2023.
—Elizabeth Warkentin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2024
Nicole Tung—The New York Times/Redux In the months since Karp’s cloak-and-dagger first meeting with Zelensky, Palantir brass have fallen into a familiar routine on their frequent trips into Ukraine.
—TIME, 8 Feb. 2024
But there was nothing cloak-and-dagger about their interactions.
—Jimmy Soni, IEEE Spectrum, 12 July 2017
Indiana probably needs more than a cloak-and-dagger quarterback approach to tighten the 29.5-point spread for Saturday’s game.
—Nathan Baird, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2023
People close to Gagosian have sometimes been taken aback by his cloak-and-dagger tradecraft.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 24 July 2023
Dictionary Entries Near cloak-and-dagger
Cite this Entry
“Cloak-and-dagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloak-and-dagger. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share