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
Examples of intimate in a Sentence
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
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
Recent Examples on the WebMaya Salam Maya Salam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024
The intimate scene is followed by a look at Malone, now with his normal facial art, standing by men in lab coats as Swift receives shock therapy.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intimate 
Adjective
Mosley’s study looked at this phenomenon by examining aspects of anxious and avoidant attachment styles, which reveal themselves in romantic or emotionally intimate situations.
—Maya Salam Maya Salam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024
The intimate scene is followed by a look at Malone, now with his normal facial art, standing by men in lab coats as Swift receives shock therapy.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intimate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intimate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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