intimate 1 of 3

adjective

ˈin-tə-mət How to pronounce intimate (audio)
Definition of intimatenext
1
as in close
closely acquainted intimate friends who can practically finish each other's sentences

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace they trusted each other enough to share intimate thoughts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

intimate

2 of 3

noun

ˈin-tə-mət How to pronounce intimate (audio)
as in friend
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another usually quite aloof in public, he's actually very relaxed with his intimates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

intimate

3 of 3

verb

ˈin-tə-ˌmāt How to pronounce intimate (audio)
as in to indicate
to convey an idea indirectly trying to intimate that there was more going on than anyone knew

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word intimate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of intimate are hint, imply, insinuate, and suggest. While all these words mean "to convey an idea indirectly," intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

In what contexts can hint take the place of intimate?

The meanings of hint and intimate largely overlap; however, hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

hinted that she might get the job

How are the words imply and suggest related as synonyms of intimate?

Imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent

When would insinuate be a good substitute for intimate?

The words insinuate and intimate can be used in similar contexts, but insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

When could suggest be used to replace intimate?

The synonyms suggest and intimate are sometimes interchangeable, but suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought.

a film title that suggests its subject matter

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of intimate
Adjective
Finding and embracing the traces of making—on both intimate and environmental scales—has become her guiding creative principle. — Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025 Weiss, 42, was charged with 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of identity theft after purportedly hacking thousands of accounts to download intimate photos and videos, according to an indictment filed in federal court Thursday. — David Matthews, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
Other intimates brands, such as Victoria’s Secret, have tried and largely failed to branch into activewear, so Skims might be able to prove itself a winner in the space with Nike by its side. — Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025 Reviews mention a variety of creative uses, too: organizing belts, scarves, jewelry, purses, shopping bags—even air drying swimwear, intimates, and damp gym clothes. — Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
At a Politico event on Tuesday, Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro intimated that Xi and Trump had plans to hash out the actions by phone. — Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 4 Feb. 2025 From mega-ships to intimate river boats, luxury yachts and expedition vessels, some two dozen new cruise ships are set to launch in 2025. — Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimate
  1. close
  2. confidential
  3. friend
  4. indicate
  5. familiar
  6. private
  7. buddy
  8. imply
Adjective
  • Many close followers of Barca have remarked on how players seem to understand what the coach wants of them perfectly, which had not always been the case in previous seasons.
    — Laia Cervelló Herrero, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • However, a small portion of them, known as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), do require closer monitoring.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of close
Adjective
  • If the owner decides to fire the attorney for having met their ethical obligation to raise such concerns, the attorney is equally bound to keep the reasons for their termination confidential (except in certain exceptional circumstances).
    — Chris Deubert, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Jones then shared confidential information relating to Wayfarer and Baldoni with Leslie Sloane, Lively’s publicist, the lawsuit says.
    — Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of confidential
Noun
  • Newsom has previously leveraged his business world connections — mostly recently tapping his friend, sports mogul Casey Wasserman — to shore up private donations to fund wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles County.
    — Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 18 Mar. 2025
  • In the movie, the actress plays the titular Zoe, the late friend and consistent voice in her head to Afghanistan war veteran Merit, played by Sonequa Martin-Green.
    — Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of friend
Verb
  • Antibodies directed against the stalks of H1N1 viruses can cross-react with H5N1, likely indicating some protection against severe disease.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Overall, as the survey indicates, the consensus is that parents are getting on board with the prevalence of gaming in our children's lives.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of indicate
Adjective
  • And the reopened Frick, with its familiar art back in place and some significant new features added — notably an entire second floor of family rooms repurposed as intimate galleries — feels organic in that way.
    — Holland Cotter, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Whatever the case, deer tend to use familiar travel corridors.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of familiar
Adjective
  • Moreover, private innovative businesses cannot thrive or even survive for long without basic research at universities.
    — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Officers are being compensated for their time through a private contract with UnitedHealthcare, according to the KSTP report.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of private
Noun
  • Back then, Dyer was 20 years old, a former high school football star and a buddy of Steven Schwartz.
    — Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter — and noted cinephile — made the announcement while appearing on Jennifer Hudson's eponymous talk show to chat about her upcoming tour with her fellow Super Bowl halftime performer Kendrick Lamar and her new buddy comedy, One of Them Days.
    — Jessica Wang, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of buddy
Verb
  • This implies a very strong Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.3% (vs. 19.0% for S&P 500).
    — Trefis Team, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The administration decision implies that any steps paroled migrants take to adjust their immigration status after publication of the notice on Tuesday would not be deemed as protection against deportation.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of imply

Browse Nearby Words

intimate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimate. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on intimate

Nglish: Translation of intimate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All