buttoned-up
adjective
but·toned-up
ˈbə-tᵊnd-ˈəp 
: coldly reserved or standoffish
a buttoned-up executive
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
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
The new offering, however, seems more buttoned-up.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Amazon has plenty of excellent work dresses that feel buttoned-up without being boring—and that are suitable for a range of office environments.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 20 Jan. 2026
For ages, London's culinary reputation—perhaps best defined by fish and chips at neighborhood pubs, (excellent) curry shops, and buttoned-up afternoon teas—seemed to lag behind global counterparts like Paris and Tokyo.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
The fun retro glasses seemed to rebel against gear that was getting as buttoned-up as the world, which has felt a bit heavier and more serious in the last five to ten years.
—Lily Ritter, Outside, 14 Jan. 2026
Cowley was more buttoned-up and shrewd about getting on in the world.
—Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Around midnight, unofficial results in all of the races and proposals in the county were buttoned-up and showing on the county website.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 8 Nov. 2025
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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
The new offering, however, seems more buttoned-up.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Amazon has plenty of excellent work dresses that feel buttoned-up without being boring—and that are suitable for a range of office environments.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 20 Jan. 2026
For ages, London's culinary reputation—perhaps best defined by fish and chips at neighborhood pubs, (excellent) curry shops, and buttoned-up afternoon teas—seemed to lag behind global counterparts like Paris and Tokyo.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
The fun retro glasses seemed to rebel against gear that was getting as buttoned-up as the world, which has felt a bit heavier and more serious in the last five to ten years.
—Lily Ritter, Outside, 14 Jan. 2026
Cowley was more buttoned-up and shrewd about getting on in the world.
—Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Around midnight, unofficial results in all of the races and proposals in the county were buttoned-up and showing on the county website.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buttoned-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buttoned-up. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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