stealthy

[ stel-thee ]

/ ˈstɛl θi /

done, characterized, or acting by stealth; furtive: stealthy footsteps.

Origin of stealthy

First recorded in 1595–1605; stealth + -y¹

stealth·i·ly, adverb stealth·i·ness, noun un·stealth·i·ly, adverb un·stealth·i·ness, noun

un·stealth·y, adjective

The stealthiness of the process blinded us, however, to what was happening.

Memoirs of a Surrey Labourer |George Sturt (AKA George Bourne)
I shall never forget the agony caused to the senses by the stealthiness with which we proceeded to the midnight slaughter.

Laura Secord, the heroine of 1812 |Sarah Anne Curzon
After this walking was easier, but stealthiness made their progress slow.

Graustark |George Barr McCutcheon
He stepped with the stealthiness of a cat toward the group surrounding the Master Workman.

Overshadowed |Sutton E. Griggs

This effectually aroused the trumpet-major, and with a stealthiness unusual in him he went indoors.

The Trumpet-Major |Thomas Hardy

stealthy

/ (ˈstɛlθɪ) /

characterized by great caution, secrecy, etc; furtive

stealthily, adverb stealthiness, noun