as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
a buttoned-up colleague who had no interest in talking about anything but work, even at parties
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buttoned-up
Evan Drellich, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Jost is clean-cut and buttoned-up; Sherman is young and hip.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
Both teams were so buttoned-up defensively that the best players had to fight for every inch.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Is their family more buttoned-up?
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
Brown may never be called buttoned-up.
—Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Most people on LinkedIn try to be professional, buttoned-up, and safe.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
After centuries of weathering and exposure, the colors seen in historical homes today can appear muted and buttoned-up, even drab.
—Cornelia Powers, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
It can be worn buttoned-up or open over a mock turtleneck with jeans.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
One was that league investigators would be more buttoned-up and by the book, with the benefit of attorney-client privilege as well.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Jost is clean-cut and buttoned-up; Sherman is young and hip.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
Both teams were so buttoned-up defensively that the best players had to fight for every inch.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Is their family more buttoned-up?
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
Brown may never be called buttoned-up.
—Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Most people on LinkedIn try to be professional, buttoned-up, and safe.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
After centuries of weathering and exposure, the colors seen in historical homes today can appear muted and buttoned-up, even drab.
—Cornelia Powers, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
It can be worn buttoned-up or open over a mock turtleneck with jeans.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttoned-up
Adjective
-
Established in 1980, Channel Islands National Park consists of five islands — Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and more detached Santa Barbara — and the marine reserves which lie within 1 nautical mile of the group’s 175 miles of coastline.—
Paul Bersebach,
Oc Register,
4 June 2025
-
Anderson built del Toro’s role around the actor, who repays him with a beauty of a performance, embodying the detached charisma of a morally dubious tycoon with cool ease.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
Until recently, restoring meaningful vision for these patients was a distant dream.—
Shelli Brunswick,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
-
Eventually, technology allows these distant intimates to share a frame.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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The October air was cold, the grass brown, but Emily’s face was hot and her breath fast.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
-
Marc: The beginning — when the titular character is crying, and then immediately switches from sobbing into the camera to being this cold and calculating person.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
There are some cool moments here, but the overall effect is unpleasant.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
Both elicit a cool factor that sets them apart from the typical high jewelry fare.—
Jill Newman,
Robb Report,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
To serve, garnish with the reserved strawberry slices.—
Georgeanne Brennan,
Mercury News,
5 June 2025
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Related Stories John Oliver Compares HBO Max/Max Branding Fiasco to Trump's Renaming the Gulf of Mexico Ardant stars as Nathalie de Beauvillier, the manor’s reserved and eccentric lady, while Dequenne delivers one of her final screen performances as Odile, the spirited cook.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buttoned-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttoned-up. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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