closeted

1 of 2

adjective

clos·​et·​ed ˈklä-zə-təd 

ˈklȯ-

: closet entry 3 sense 3

a closeted gay man

closeted

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of closet entry 2

Examples of closeted in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The titular gang comprises Mac (McElhenney), a closeted wannabe tough guy; the narcissistic prepster Dennis (Glenn Howerton); Dennis’s chronically unsure fraternal twin, Dee (Kaitlin Olson); and the bar’s buffoonish janitor, Charlie (Charlie Day). — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

An erotic thriller that captures the dying charm of Thailand’s stand-alone cinemas which also serve as cruising sites for closeted gay men. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

The show, just like the book, follows a 17-year-old closeted Bret (Igby Rigney) — who is grappling with his sexuality — during the fall of his senior year at Buckley Prep. — Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026

The hosts and reps are wives and mothers too (or the gay best friends of wives and mothers, or at least the closeted neighbor of wives and mothers). — Hannah Engler Harvey, Longreads, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1969, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for closeted

• posited
• composited
• deposited
• electrodeposited
• redeposited