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in·ti·mate
ˈin-tə-mət 
1
a
: marked by a warm friendship developing through long association
intimate friends
b
: suggesting informal warmth or privacy
intimate clubs
c
: engaged in, involving, or marked by sex or sexual relations
It must have been a shock for the author to realize—somewhere between contract and completed manuscript—that while Ms. Brickman was intimate with dozens of mobsters, she was close to none of them.—
Amy Pagnozzi
Amy PagnozziThe father of three children by three women doesn't have a girlfriend and says he hasn't been intimate with anyone in two months.—Michael Silver
Michael Silver2
: of a very personal or private nature
intimate secrets
3
: marked by very close association, contact, or familiarity
intimate knowledge of the law
intimately
adverb
intimateness
noun
in·ti·mate
ˈin-tə-mət
: a very close friend or confidant : an intimate friend
in·ti·mate
ˈin-tə-ˌmāt
intimated; intimating
1
: to communicate delicately and indirectly : hint
2
: to make known especially publicly or formally : announce
intimater
noun
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Adjective
The dining room is plush and intimate, set off by some of the most extravagant floral arrangements in the city.
—Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator, 31 Mar. 2009
When a little-known writer undertakes a manifesto—a statement, after all, of sober purpose and principle—it is likely also to be a cri de coeur, and its reasoned argument will derive from the intimate wounds of autobiography.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper's, April 2007
The company would sit around after dinner in the lavishly plain living room or wander out to the pool for more intimate conversation …
—Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987
They remained intimate friends throughout their lives.
They are in an intimate and committed relationship.
Noun
Musicians … tend not, as writers do, to write hundreds of letters sharing with intimates what is going on in their hearts or heads.
—August Kleinzahler, New York Times Book Review, 18 Oct. 2009
She might not mind his assistance, and he was hungering for the company of an intimate to whom he could give and from whom he could receive, and who better in all the world than Nancy?
—Philip Roth, Everyman, 2006
So this is a biography rich in information, written in a humble and tasteful way by an intimate whose aim is to put a lot of material at the reader's disposal …
—Martha C. Nussbaum, New Republic, 31 Dec. 2001 & 7 Jan. 2002
His coworkers knew him as “Robert,” but his intimates called him “Robbie.”
usually quite aloof in public, he's actually quite relaxed with his intimates
Verb
Is he really—as his advisers keep intimating to Western journalists—a serious reformer waiting to emerge from the closet?
—Murray Scot Tanner, Newsweek, 6 May 2002
The dome tops look like pieces of the older ridged plains, intimating that the domes formed when the plains were pushed upward from below.
—Robert T. Pappalardo et al., Scientific American, October 1999
He bounded on stage wearing a polo T-shirt and trousers whose sleekness intimated a large American Express bill.
—Caroline Sullivan, Times (London), 15 Oct. 1992
trying to intimate that there was more going on than anyone knew
See More
Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator, 31 Mar. 2009
When a little-known writer undertakes a manifesto—a statement, after all, of sober purpose and principle—it is likely also to be a cri de coeur, and its reasoned argument will derive from the intimate wounds of autobiography.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper's, April 2007
The company would sit around after dinner in the lavishly plain living room or wander out to the pool for more intimate conversation …
—Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987
They remained intimate friends throughout their lives.
They are in an intimate and committed relationship.
Noun
Musicians … tend not, as writers do, to write hundreds of letters sharing with intimates what is going on in their hearts or heads.
—August Kleinzahler, New York Times Book Review, 18 Oct. 2009
She might not mind his assistance, and he was hungering for the company of an intimate to whom he could give and from whom he could receive, and who better in all the world than Nancy?
—Philip Roth, Everyman, 2006
So this is a biography rich in information, written in a humble and tasteful way by an intimate whose aim is to put a lot of material at the reader's disposal …
—Martha C. Nussbaum, New Republic, 31 Dec. 2001 & 7 Jan. 2002
His coworkers knew him as “Robert,” but his intimates called him “Robbie.”
usually quite aloof in public, he's actually quite relaxed with his intimates
Verb
Is he really—as his advisers keep intimating to Western journalists—a serious reformer waiting to emerge from the closet?
—Murray Scot Tanner, Newsweek, 6 May 2002
The dome tops look like pieces of the older ridged plains, intimating that the domes formed when the plains were pushed upward from below.
—Robert T. Pappalardo et al., Scientific American, October 1999
He bounded on stage wearing a polo T-shirt and trousers whose sleekness intimated a large American Express bill.
—Caroline Sullivan, Times (London), 15 Oct. 1992
trying to intimate that there was more going on than anyone knew
See More
Recent Examples on the WebSam Noble, Chron, 2 Mar. 2023
The vibe is upscale and intimate, but the staff would be just as welcoming if someone (like, say, me) were to stumble in jet-lagged in a Naruto anime T-shirt after a delayed flight.
—Mariah Morrison, Harper's BAZAAR, 1 Mar. 2023
This is an intimate but casual setting—there are only 32 guest rooms—and with a 5:1 staff-to-guest ratio, there's plenty of attention and guidance.
—Liz Krieger, Town & Country, 1 Mar. 2023
Rich Fury 37 of 55 Lily Allen and David Harbour Allen and Harbour made headlines in 2020 after eloping in Las Vegas in an intimate and simple ceremony.
—Hannah Malach, ELLE, 1 Mar. 2023
The Fawn refuses any clear political agenda: intimate, contradictory, elusive, Eszter’s confession to her lover resists coherent—official!—narrative.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 1 Mar. 2023
His delightfully chaotic and intimate shots of Styles feel like instant additions to the canon of tour images that live in our collective musical memory: of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Rolling Stones.
—Hannah Summerhill, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2023
The platform, known as Take It Down, allows young adults from anywhere in the world to submit an anonymous report about explicit or intimate images of themselves posted on certain online spaces.
—Ginger Adams Otis, WSJ, 27 Feb. 2023
The truth is that boundaries are the guide to help our relationship feel safe, intimate and fulfilling.
—Sara Kuburic, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2023
oregonlive, 21 Sep. 2022
Isaac Lamb directs this intimate, 2018 off-Broadway delight.
—oregonlive, 21 Sep. 2022
The main difference is tonal: whereas Kraus, who ran in the same creative circles as Acker, and who married one of Acker’s ex-lovers, writes with the ambivalence of an intimate, McBride writes with the adulation of a fan.
—Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022
Isaac Lamb directs this intimate, 2018 off-Broadway delight.
—oregonlive, 21 Sep. 2022
Make no mistake, Bros is a very gay movie, from its wry one-liners about poppers and Provincetown to its intimate if hardly explicit love scenes.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 30 Sep. 2022
Equally conversant in politics, pop culture and sports, the Atlantic magazine contributor and former ESPN host has delivered a new intimate, thought-provoking interview nearly every week since April 2019.
—Thr Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Oct. 2022
Isaac Lamb directs this intimate, 2018 off-Broadway delight.
—oregonlive, 21 Sep. 2022
My Octopus Teacher became an Oscar winner in 2021, winning for its intimate (and occasionally unsettling) exploration of a man's friendship with a wild octopus.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 17 Sep. 2022
Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2023
You’re invited to all virtual conversations and panels, as well as to intimate, live networking sessions with Vogue’s global editors, stylists, and creatives.
—Vogue, 14 Feb. 2022
Will intimate boutique art fairs like S.E.A. Focus thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic as opposed to larger art fairs like Art SG?
—Y-jean Mun-delsalle, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2022
From daring expeditions to intimate one-on-one moments, these trips prove an anniversary is the perfect excuse to discover a new part of the world — and the next phase of your relationship.
—Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 2 Feb. 2023
For couples, indulgence is the key word here, from the bespoke treatments at Sense, a Rosewood Spa, to intimate private dinners at La Cave, to enormous suites, some of which were designed by Karl Lagerfeld.
—Juliet Izon, Glamour, 26 Jan. 2023
Below, 16 of the most intriguing titles due this season, from fantastical Indian epics and fizzy domestic dramedies to intimate tales of love, loss, and K-pop.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 13 Jan. 2023
There’s a dynamic permanent collection of outdoor art and a robust program of events, from family-friendly seasonal programming and weekly live-music gatherings to intimate wine-and-spirits dinners.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2022
Laymon is incomparably knowing about the tissues connecting external orders of violence to intimate pain and self-wounding.
—Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2022
See More
Adjective
This showcase welcomes anyone and everyone to share a laugh and will serve tasty food, draught beer, wine, Delta-8, and cocktails in an intimate and casual setting.
—Sam Noble, Chron, 2 Mar. 2023
The vibe is upscale and intimate, but the staff would be just as welcoming if someone (like, say, me) were to stumble in jet-lagged in a Naruto anime T-shirt after a delayed flight.
—Mariah Morrison, Harper's BAZAAR, 1 Mar. 2023
This is an intimate but casual setting—there are only 32 guest rooms—and with a 5:1 staff-to-guest ratio, there's plenty of attention and guidance.
—Liz Krieger, Town & Country, 1 Mar. 2023
Rich Fury 37 of 55 Lily Allen and David Harbour Allen and Harbour made headlines in 2020 after eloping in Las Vegas in an intimate and simple ceremony.
—Hannah Malach, ELLE, 1 Mar. 2023
The Fawn refuses any clear political agenda: intimate, contradictory, elusive, Eszter’s confession to her lover resists coherent—official!—narrative.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 1 Mar. 2023
His delightfully chaotic and intimate shots of Styles feel like instant additions to the canon of tour images that live in our collective musical memory: of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Rolling Stones.
—Hannah Summerhill, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2023
The platform, known as Take It Down, allows young adults from anywhere in the world to submit an anonymous report about explicit or intimate images of themselves posted on certain online spaces.
—Ginger Adams Otis, WSJ, 27 Feb. 2023
The truth is that boundaries are the guide to help our relationship feel safe, intimate and fulfilling.
—Sara Kuburic, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2023
Noun
Isaac Lamb directs this intimate, 2018 off-Broadway delight.
—oregonlive, 21 Sep. 2022
Isaac Lamb directs this intimate, 2018 off-Broadway delight.
—oregonlive, 21 Sep. 2022
The main difference is tonal: whereas Kraus, who ran in the same creative circles as Acker, and who married one of Acker’s ex-lovers, writes with the ambivalence of an intimate, McBride writes with the adulation of a fan.
—Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022
Isaac Lamb directs this intimate, 2018 off-Broadway delight.
—oregonlive, 21 Sep. 2022
Make no mistake, Bros is a very gay movie, from its wry one-liners about poppers and Provincetown to its intimate if hardly explicit love scenes.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 30 Sep. 2022
Equally conversant in politics, pop culture and sports, the Atlantic magazine contributor and former ESPN host has delivered a new intimate, thought-provoking interview nearly every week since April 2019.
—Thr Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Oct. 2022
Isaac Lamb directs this intimate, 2018 off-Broadway delight.
—oregonlive, 21 Sep. 2022
My Octopus Teacher became an Oscar winner in 2021, winning for its intimate (and occasionally unsettling) exploration of a man's friendship with a wild octopus.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 17 Sep. 2022
Verb
Jazz looms large this weekend in Detroit’s arts scene, with concerts at venues ranging from large to intimate.
—Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2023
You’re invited to all virtual conversations and panels, as well as to intimate, live networking sessions with Vogue’s global editors, stylists, and creatives.
—Vogue, 14 Feb. 2022
Will intimate boutique art fairs like S.E.A. Focus thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic as opposed to larger art fairs like Art SG?
—Y-jean Mun-delsalle, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2022
From daring expeditions to intimate one-on-one moments, these trips prove an anniversary is the perfect excuse to discover a new part of the world — and the next phase of your relationship.
—Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 2 Feb. 2023
For couples, indulgence is the key word here, from the bespoke treatments at Sense, a Rosewood Spa, to intimate private dinners at La Cave, to enormous suites, some of which were designed by Karl Lagerfeld.
—Juliet Izon, Glamour, 26 Jan. 2023
Below, 16 of the most intriguing titles due this season, from fantastical Indian epics and fizzy domestic dramedies to intimate tales of love, loss, and K-pop.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 13 Jan. 2023
There’s a dynamic permanent collection of outdoor art and a robust program of events, from family-friendly seasonal programming and weekly live-music gatherings to intimate wine-and-spirits dinners.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2022
Laymon is incomparably knowing about the tissues connecting external orders of violence to intimate pain and self-wounding.
—Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intimate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
alteration of obsolete intime, from Latin intimus — see intimate entry 3
Verb
Late Latin intimatus, past participle of intimare to put in, announce, from Latin intimus innermost, superlative of Old Latin *interus inward — more at interior
Phrases Containing intimate
Articles Related to intimate
Dictionary Entries Near intimate
Cite this Entry
“Intimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intimate. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
intimate
1 of 3 verb
in·ti·mate
ˈint-ə-ˌmāt
intimated; intimating
1
2
: to communicate indirectly : hint
intimater
noun
intimate
2 of 3 adjective
in·ti·mate
ˈint-ə-mət
1
: belonging to or characterizing one's deepest nature
her intimate reflections
2
: marked by very close association or contact
an intimate familiarity with the rules
3
a
: marked by a warm friendship developing through long association
intimate friends
b
: suggesting informal warmth or privacy
intimate clubs
4
: of a very personal or private nature
intimate secrets
intimately
adverb
intimateness
noun
intimate
3 of 3 noun
in·ti·mate
ˈint-ə-mət
: an intimate friend : confidant
More from Merriam-Webster on intimate
Nglish: Translation of intimate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of intimate for Arabic Speakers
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