Examples of clam up in a Sentence
the little girl clammed up when the doctor came into the room
Recent Examples on the Web
The client is bound to clam up.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The 2025-26 campaign and postseason — the Bears are two wins away from next month’s Super Bowl LX after winning the division and beating the Packers twice — so far has made their snarky detractors clam up.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
The famously outgoing media personality clammed up, on air and off, thanks to a terrifying stranger.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
But in Nogent, a town of around 4,000, most residents clam up at the mention of her name today.
—Hannah Goeke, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2025
Then, after Austin Jackson sustained his season-ending knee injury in early November in Miami’s loss to the Bills , the Dolphins run game clammed up.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 July 2025
Although that doesn’t account for those opposite behaviors (e.g., clamming up).
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Trump had been more open to diplomacy near the beginning of Israel’s conflict with Iran, leaving his nuclear deal options open with them, but has since clammed up.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 21 June 2025
Win your division, and the odds of winning the World Series improve.
I’m tempted to clam up right there because earning a wild-card berth can also lead to winning a World Series — see Bruce Bochy with the 2012 Giants and 2023 Rangers.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025
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Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The 2025-26 campaign and postseason — the Bears are two wins away from next month’s Super Bowl LX after winning the division and beating the Packers twice — so far has made their snarky detractors clam up.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
The famously outgoing media personality clammed up, on air and off, thanks to a terrifying stranger.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
But in Nogent, a town of around 4,000, most residents clam up at the mention of her name today.
—Hannah Goeke, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2025
Then, after Austin Jackson sustained his season-ending knee injury in early November in Miami’s loss to the Bills , the Dolphins run game clammed up.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 July 2025
Although that doesn’t account for those opposite behaviors (e.g., clamming up).
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Trump had been more open to diplomacy near the beginning of Israel’s conflict with Iran, leaving his nuclear deal options open with them, but has since clammed up.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 21 June 2025
Win your division, and the odds of winning the World Series improve.
I’m tempted to clam up right there because earning a wild-card berth can also lead to winning a World Series — see Bruce Bochy with the 2012 Giants and 2023 Rangers.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clam up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clam%20up. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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