1
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge
he remained closemouthed about their activities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)
encourage the closemouthed children to speak up and not be shy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of closemouthed
There’s also the closemouthed, menacing technician who lives on a houseboat and raises snakes; the actress first hired for the show’s leading part who dropped out of the role before shooting began; and the unknown burglar who fled the frightened player’s house.
—
Tom Nolan, WSJ, 23 Dec. 2022
Hutton’s gaptoothed smile replaced the closemouthed gaze and white eyeliner of Vogue models of the 1960s.
—Washington Post, 25 Dec. 2021
Ever since the couple pulled up stakes and moved away from the United Kingdom in March, their new spokespeople have been even more closemouthed.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2020
By and large, this is a secretive, closemouthed group of individuals who want nothing more than to say little and share even less.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 3 July 2018
Led by Vice President Temer, whose cryptic, closemouthed demeanor has his rivals comparing him to a butler in a horror movie, the centrists anchoring Ms. Rousseff’s coalition broke away last week.
—Simon Romero, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2016
Tom Nolan, WSJ, 23 Dec. 2022
Hutton’s gaptoothed smile replaced the closemouthed gaze and white eyeliner of Vogue models of the 1960s.
—Washington Post, 25 Dec. 2021
Ever since the couple pulled up stakes and moved away from the United Kingdom in March, their new spokespeople have been even more closemouthed.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2020
By and large, this is a secretive, closemouthed group of individuals who want nothing more than to say little and share even less.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 3 July 2018
Led by Vice President Temer, whose cryptic, closemouthed demeanor has his rivals comparing him to a butler in a horror movie, the centrists anchoring Ms. Rousseff’s coalition broke away last week.
—Simon Romero, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closemouthed
Adjective
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And university leaders fearing government investigations, funding cuts, or punitive endowment taxes crack down on campus protest, remove or demote outspoken professors, and remain silent in the face of growing authoritarianism.—
STEVEN LEVITSKY,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
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Since the ibises couldn’t be exposed to another human voice, Schiffman, once, riding along with them, had to remain silent for seven hours, raw-dogging it in the van.—
Nick Paumgarten,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Bam Adebayo said there’s more to come for the reserved, respectful Stockholm, Sweden, native.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2025
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Pricing was not yet announced but playoff seating has already sold for several hundred dollars per seat in the reserved sections.—
Carolyn Giardina,
Variety,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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They were later photographed briefly locking lips at the event, fueling speculation about their curiously close relationship. 7.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
16 Feb. 2025
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Gavin Newsom California's governor is close behind, or tied, with Buttigieg in the recent polling.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
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Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
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Though her identity is not at first known to Benedict, the woman turns out to be Sophie Baek, a secretive maid with big dreams.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
14 Feb. 2025
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North Korea has sent munitions, missiles and fighters to Russia, raising speculation that the Kremlin has agreed to share weapons technology with the secretive nation as well as economic aid.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Zhang films the turbulent yet nuanced action in dry, restrained tableaux of an elusive lyricism, a poetry that, to match Beibei’s relentless pursuits, remains just out of reach.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
29 Jan. 2025
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Some folks might overstate the likely influence of those who call for a more restrained U.S. approach to the world within a second Trump administration, the scholars wrote in the opinion piece.—
Cory Smith,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Amidst a sea of partygoers in wild outfits galore, Zoë Kravitz reminded us that sometimes breaking the rules can be a quiet act.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2025
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Oh, and there’s no prize, except the quiet satisfaction of a job well done.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Ng’s father is reticent about his immigration story.—
Jane Hu,
The New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2025
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This simple act of writing down your thoughts, which is often easier for the emotionally reticent, is an easy way to do it.—
Jim VandeHei,
Axios,
9 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near closemouthed
Cite this Entry
“Closemouthed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closemouthed. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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