closeted

adjective

clos·​et·​ed ˈklä-zə-təd How to pronounce closeted (audio)
ˈklȯ-
: closet entry 3 sense 3
a closeted gay man

Examples of closeted in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
If Bill Rusher was a closeted gay man, he was tucked back there in the far corner, next to his grandfather’s golf clubs. Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 13 May 2025 Chen would be playing a Chinese immigrant who marries a closeted Taiwanese man living in New York City to obtain her green card. Lawrence Yee, People.com, 10 May 2025 For much of his professional career, Gurr was a closeted gay man, coming of age during the 1950s era of Joseph McCarthy and the Lavender Scare, the anti-communist purge of LGBTQ+ people from the U.S. government. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025 Han plays Min, the closeted and wealthy heir of a Korean corporate empire whose visa is about to expire. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for closeted

Word History

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of closeted was in 1969

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Closeted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closeted. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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