concealed objective

[kənˈsild əbˈdʒɛktɪv]
nounpl: concealed objectives
objetivo oculto
1. A hidden or undisclosed goal, purpose, or aim that someone pursues without revealing it openly
The company claimed to support sustainability, but their concealed objective was to increase profits through greenwashing.
A empresa alegava apoiar a sustentabilidade, mas seu objetivo oculto era aumentar os lucros através do greenwashing.
2. In military or strategic contexts, a hidden target or goal that is not apparent from surface actions
The general's public statement focused on defense, but the concealed objective was to gather intelligence.
A declaração pública do general focava em defesa, mas o objetivo oculto era reunir inteligência.
3. An unstated agenda or ulterior motive behind someone's behavior or statements
Her friendly approach had a concealed objective: to manipulate the team into accepting her proposal.
Sua abordagem amigável tinha um objetivo oculto: manipular o time para aceitar sua proposta.
This term is commonly used in both American corporate and political discourse to describe situations where publicly stated goals differ from actual intentions. In Brazilian Portuguese contexts, it appears frequently in business negotiations and political analysis. The concept reflects a growing skepticism about transparency in institutions and organizations across both cultures.
NYC Slang
hidden agenda; sneaky objective
Synonyms / Sinônimos
hidden agendaulterior motivesecret aimcovert goalundisclosed purposelatent objective
Antonyms / Antônimos
explicit objectivestated goaltransparent aimopen purposedeclared objective

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
objetivo oculto
Standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
intenção escondida
Alternative colloquial expression
São Paulo
objetivo secreto
Formal business context usage
Portugal
objetivo encoberto
European Portuguese variant

Related Words

hidden agendaulterior motivecovert operationstrategic goaldeceptionsubterfuge

Related Idioms & Phrases

have an axe to grind
play one's cards close to the chest
have a hidden agenda
read between the lines
there's more to this than meets the eye
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