as in to hush
to stop talking
the little girl clammed up when the doctor came into the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clam up
Although regulations may usher in more urgency for sustainable action, the laws rolling out around transparent claims could lead to companies clamming up about their initiatives to avoid potential greenwashing penalties.
—
Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
While Lydia wallows in the residual pain, Paul has clammed up.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
Judges struggle to name favorite cheese Ask a judge to pick their favorite and most will clam up, dodge the question or offer a long, unranked list.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024
One social worker said that a girl clammed up in a recent interview that her mother was invited to.
—Scooty Nickerson, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
City clams up over chance of lawsuit Antoine Bryant, director of planning and development, apologized to City Council members for soliciting the contract to pay for the murals using city money without the nine-member body's approval, which is required.
—Detroit Free Press, 25 Jan. 2024
With less contact between the user's hand and the electronics, plus more airflow, users may find their hands clamming up less easily during long hours of intense use.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2023
Jim Harbaugh will coach not to lose and clam up just enough to let Ohio State’s amazing skill talent pull the upset late.
—J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023
When pandemic lockdowns clammed up her restaurant clientele, Ms. Brown began selling her oysters from her flatbed truck near her farm in Little Bay, New Hampshire.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Sep. 2023
Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
While Lydia wallows in the residual pain, Paul has clammed up.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
Judges struggle to name favorite cheese Ask a judge to pick their favorite and most will clam up, dodge the question or offer a long, unranked list.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024
One social worker said that a girl clammed up in a recent interview that her mother was invited to.
—Scooty Nickerson, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
City clams up over chance of lawsuit Antoine Bryant, director of planning and development, apologized to City Council members for soliciting the contract to pay for the murals using city money without the nine-member body's approval, which is required.
—Detroit Free Press, 25 Jan. 2024
With less contact between the user's hand and the electronics, plus more airflow, users may find their hands clamming up less easily during long hours of intense use.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2023
Jim Harbaugh will coach not to lose and clam up just enough to let Ohio State’s amazing skill talent pull the upset late.
—J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023
When pandemic lockdowns clammed up her restaurant clientele, Ms. Brown began selling her oysters from her flatbed truck near her farm in Little Bay, New Hampshire.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Sep. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clam up
Verb
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Residents also have access to the hotel’s many perks, which will include restaurants, a wellness center, a spa, hushed reading rooms, and a daily programming of activities.—
Emma Reynolds,
Robb Report,
7 Feb. 2025
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While his initial work was hushed and impressionistic, Longlegs was more flamboyant with its thrills.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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If the lake were to completely dry up there would be a horror to behold.—
Dennis Hinkamp,
The Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2025
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The outreach doesn’t need to pattern itself after past cringe but must start carrying itself like its surrounding ecosystems could dry up with baffling speed and cruelty.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In contrast to contemporaries like Ben Jonson—who told his audiences, basically, Sit down, shut up, and enjoy the glory of my words—Shakespeare repeatedly went out of his way to ask audiences to be active participants in the creation of his plays.—
Jeffrey R. Wilson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 Jan. 2025
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Those rewards are less about shutting up and playing the hits than understanding that the relationship to the audience is slightly different.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near clam up
Cite this Entry
“Clam up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clam%20up. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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