buttoned-up

adjective

but·​toned-up ˈbə-tᵊnd-ˈəp 

: coldly reserved or standoffish

a buttoned-up executive

Synonyms of buttoned-up

• detached
• distant
• cold
• cool
• reserved

Examples of buttoned-up in a Sentence

a buttoned-up colleague who had no interest in talking about anything but work, even at parties

Recent Examples on the Web

Angela Rayner Starmer is often criticized for being buttoned-up and lawyerly. — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 May 2026

Aidala is folksy, while Agnifilo is more buttoned-up. — ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026

There's ample space across two floors—the taproom downstairs is looser, the parlor upstairs a bit more buttoned-up and spirits-oriented. — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026

Raquel Welch brought her signature va-va-voom and fashion-forward style to the Oscars, with low necklines, high slits, and daring silhouettes, during a time when the ceremony dress code was much more (literally) buttoned-up. — Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for buttoned-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup