1
: a cautious, unobtrusive, and secretive way of moving or proceeding intended to avoid detection
Makos, among the fastest of sharks, chase down their prey. Slower species … rely on stealth and explosive power.—
Steve Kemper
Steve KemperThe intricate labor … required courage and stealth.—Sue M. Halpern
Sue M. HalpernAs we walked closer we began treading with exaggerated stealth until we came very close …—Dorothy Dimsdale
Dorothy DimsdaleA thief does his work in secret and by stealth.—Harry Shaw
Harry Shaw2
: an aircraft-design characteristic consisting of oblique angular construction and avoidance of vertical surfaces that is intended to produce a very weak radar return
—usually used before another noun
a stealth bomber/fighter
stealth aircraft
stealth technology
3
a
archaic
: theft
b
obsolete
: something stolen
1
: intended not to attract attention : stealthy
a stealth campaign
… the company has operated in stealth mode until now.—Steve Silberman
Steve SilbermanHer team seemed to communicate with a secret stealth language …—E. L. Konigsburg
see also stealth entry 1 sense 2
E. L. Konigsburg2
medical
: involving or caused by an asymptomatic or presymptomatic infectious individual : silent sense 6b
stealth spread/transmission of a contagious disease
Examples of stealth in a Sentence
Noun
The fox uses stealth and cunning to hunt its prey.
Adjective
the SWAT team carried out a stealth raid on the house, which was believed to be harboring a terrorist cell
Recent Examples on the Web
Eliana Dockterman, Time, 13 Apr. 2025
Some of the final fights now adapt to stealth more dynamically, forcing you to actually engage.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Philip Elliott, Time, 8 May 2025
The difference with Lander’s show, which chronicles the ever-sprawling antics of the McCallister family — most sketches are actually stealth explorations of relationship dynamics — is that Lander is the show.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stealth
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Noun
Abby is also designed in conscious contrast to the slight but quick Ellie, who often has to use stealth and wits to overpower her enemies.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 13 Apr. 2025
Some of the final fights now adapt to stealth more dynamically, forcing you to actually engage.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The stealth contender broke through the byzantine Vatican politics and may yet break Washington’s understanding of how the Catholic machinery operates around the globe.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 8 May 2025
The difference with Lander’s show, which chronicles the ever-sprawling antics of the McCallister family — most sketches are actually stealth explorations of relationship dynamics — is that Lander is the show.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stealth
Cite this Entry
“Stealth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stealth. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stealth
1 of 2 noun1
: sly or secret action
2
: a design style intended to make an aircraft difficult to detect by radar
stealth
2 of 2 adjective
: intended not to attract attention : stealthy sense 2
a stealth campaign
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