intimate

play

verb in·ti·mate \ ˈin-tə-ˌmāt \

Definition of intimate

intimated; intimating

transitive verb

1 :to make known especially publicly or formally :announce

2 :to communicate delicately and indirectly :hint

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intimater

noun

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intimation

play \ˌin-tə-ˈmā-shən\ noun

See intimate defined for English-language learners

See intimate defined for kids

Examples of intimate in a Sentence

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 of intimate from the Web

The moment is one of a dozen this season that have intimated there's more than political sparks between the two.

— kelly lawler, USA TODAY, "A Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen romance would be the ultimate 'Game of Thrones' betrayal," 25 Aug. 2017
Family members said she was told Wednesday that her attorneys need to address the removal order, intimating that the removal order legally supersedes her DACA protections.

— mark curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "Sources: ICE says it will release Florence mom with legal DACA status," 24 Aug. 2017
David Domina, the lawyer for the Nebraska landowners, intimated that the company was trying to build corporate firewalls to keep any problems from reaching the actual applicant.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "What Is the Keystone Pipeline Fight Really About?," 8 Aug. 2017
Dowd was sued by Rose in federal court last year after intimating in a radio interview that Rose had underage girls sent to him during baseball spring training.

— eric tucker, The Seattle Times, "Trump attorney brings ‘street fighter’ spirit to his work," 2 Aug. 2017
Bands of pro-government toughs — known as colectivos — roam poor neighborhoods, waving guns, intimating protesters and journalists, beating opposition politicians and warning locals to toe the government line.

— anthony faiola, Washington Post, "Venezuela’s vote for a constitutional assembly could destroy democracy, critics warn," 27 July 2017
Obviously, the Trump camp is intimating that the June 9 meeting was a set-up and that the Obama administration may have been in on it.

— andrew c. mccarthy, National Review, "The Curious Case of Natalia Veselnitskaya," 19 July 2017
The NLRB cannot punish a sandwich-shop franchise for firing six workers who circulated posters intimating the shops’ sandwiches were a source of foodborne disease, says the en banc Eighth Circuit.

— eugene volokh, Washington Post, "Short Circuit: A roundup of recent federal court decisions," 17 July 2017
George has intimated that winning and returning to LA are among his top priorities.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "Trade Grades: Thunder Poach Paul George From Pacers In Stunner," 2 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of intimate

Late Latin intimatus, past participle of intimare to put in, announce, from Latin intimus innermost, superlative of Old Latin *interus inward — more at interior

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1522

See Words from the same year

intimate Synonyms

Synonyms

allude, imply, indicate, infer, insinuate, hint, suggest

Related Words

advert, mention, point, refer, signal, signalize, signify; smack (of), smell (of)

Near Antonyms

announce, declare, proclaim; elucidate, explain, spell out; delineate, describe

Synonym Discussion of intimate

suggest, imply, hint, intimate, insinuate mean to convey an idea indirectly. suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought.

- a film title that suggests its subject matter

imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

- measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent

hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

- hinted that she might get the job

intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

- intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

- insinuated that there were shady dealings

intimate

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adjective in·ti·mate \ ˈin-tə-mət \

Definition of intimate

1 a :intrinsic, essential

b :belonging to or characterizing one's deepest nature

2 :marked by very close association, contact, or familiarity

intimate knowledge of the law

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

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intimately

adverb

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intimateness

noun

See intimate defined for English-language learners

Examples of intimate in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of intimate from the Web

Girl tries to solve problem through intimate communication, which feels best to her, but boy wants to think about the problem alone, which feels best to him.

— carolyn hax, idahostatesman, "Being rejected doesn’t mean you’re ‘not good enough’," 28 Aug. 2017
The intimate noises fill in the silence around the stories, embedding them in a three-dimensional soundscape.

— galen beebe, The Atlantic, "The Podcast Made From Inside Prison," 27 Aug. 2017
Monday Sarah Marie Young and Stu Mindeman, 6-7 p.m. The singer and pianist, both Chicagoans, launch the week’s activities in an intimate setting, presented by WDCB-FM 90.9, which will broadcast the performance live.

— howard reich, chicagotribune.com, "Who to see as the 39th Chicago Jazz Fest gets set to swing," 24 Aug. 2017
With an abundance of original architectural features including 6 fireplaces, a kitchen cooking hearth and warm oak and pine floors, this one feels feels especially intimate inside.

— elizabeth finkelstein, Country Living, "This is the Stone Farmhouse We've Been Waiting Our Whole Lives to Buy," 24 Aug. 2017
Who should go to this venue: Since this is a hotel, families would be welcome here, though the prices and atmosphere lean more to subdued conversation and intimate meetings.

— carlos frías, miamiherald, "We rated 11 favorite Miami Spice restaurants so you don’t have to," 23 Aug. 2017
Last night's Game of Thrones appeared to confirm that in the final moments of the episode, when the duo shared an intimate scene alone.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Daenerys and Jon Snow Had Their Most Intimate Moment Ever Last Night," 21 Aug. 2017
Magician Dennis Watkins brings his mystifying stage show to the intimate venue for 3 and 7:30 p.m. performances Aug. 19.

— bob kostanczuk, Post-Tribune, "Magician returns to Theatre at the Center stage," 11 Aug. 2017
Aside from him, the people with the most intimate knowledge of the problems and the possibilities of the D.O.E. walked out the door.

— michael lewis, The Hive, "Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House," 2 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of intimate

alteration of obsolete intime, from Latin intimus — see ¹intimate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1632

See Words from the same year

intimate Synonyms

Synonyms

bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, friendly, inseparable, familiar, inward, near, thick, tight

Antonyms

distant

Related Words

clannish, close-knit, tight-knit; affable, boon, companionable, convivial, cordial, genial, gracious, hearty; gregarious, sociable, social; comfortable, cozy, easy, snug; amicable, neighborly; confidential, secretive; adoring, affectionate, dear, devoted, fond, loving, tender, tenderhearted, warm

Near Antonyms

aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawn

intimate

play

noun in·ti·mate \ ˈin-tə-mət \

Definition of intimate

:a very close friend or confidant :an intimate friend

See intimate defined for English-language learners

Examples of intimate in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of intimate from the Web

In a perfect world, all of my intimates would be from Baserange — not only because each of the brand’s pieces are sustainable, but also because of their cool minimalist take on comfy favorites.

— indya brown, The Cut, "10 Bralettes That Will Make You Want to Give Up Padding for Good," 14 Aug. 2017
In late March 2016, the company released a video announcing #Aerieman—the male counterpart to Aerie, its lingerie and intimates line, which is marketed with inclusive beauty and love-your-body messages.

— arianna rebolini, Esquire, "Men are spending more money on their clothes than ever before, and more men than ever are plus-sized. So why haven't brands figured out how to create something they actually want to wear?," 24 July 2017
After all, Littlefinger wants to make her his sinister sidekick, but Turner intimates that won't happen.

— stephanie merry, chicagotribune.com, "Some 'Game of Thrones' stars are better than others at keeping secrets," 11 July 2017
Lone Standout Teen apparel’s standout would seem to be American Eagle, which has had success with denim products and its Aerie intimates, especially its bralettes.

— lindsey rupp, Bloomberg.com, "Abercrombie & Fitch's Failed Deal Is the Latest Problem for Teen Retailers," 10 July 2017
Over the course of the ominous two-and-a-half-hour performance, the Willows family intimates that something is wrong by cornering audience members, pulling them aside or whispering in their ears.

— maxwell williams, The Hollywood Reporter, "Behind 'The Willows': L.A.'s Buzzy New Immersive Theater Experience," 30 June 2017
At 20,000 square feet carved out of lower-level space that formerly housed intimates and children’s clothing, the Backstage shop is stocked with an eclectic assortment of merchandise aimed at bargain-hunting customers.

— rick romell, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Macy's opens off-price 'Backstage' shop inside Mayfair department store," 20 June 2017
Maudie Is an Intimate and Uncomfortable Biopic—David Sims watches the new film starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke.

— the editors, The Atlantic, "The Atlantic's Week in Culture," 16 June 2017
Last June, Victoria's Secret customers snapped up savings across popular intimates categories.

— @nerdwallet, OregonLive.com, "What to buy (and skip) in June," 9 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of intimate

see ²intimate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1659

See Words from the same year

intimate Synonyms

Synonyms

alter ego, amigo, buddy, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar, friend, mate [chiefly British], musketeer, pal

Antonyms

enemy, foe

Related Words

acquaintance; associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, partner, peer, sport; blood brother, brother, main man, sister; abettor (also abetter), accomplice, ally, collaborator, confederate; pen pal; benefactor, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher; friendly

Near Antonyms

adversary, antagonist, competitor, opponent, rival; archenemy, nemesis

INTIMATE Defined for English Language Learners

intimate

play

verb

Definition of intimate for English Language Learners

: to say or suggest (something) in an indirect way

intimate

play

adjective

Definition of intimate for English Language Learners

: having a very close relationship : very warm and friendly
: very personal or private
: involving sex or sexual relations

intimate

play

noun

Definition of intimate for English Language Learners

: a very close and trusted friend : an intimate friend

INTIMATE Defined for Kids

intimate

play

verb in·ti·mate \ ˈin-tə-ˌmāt \

Definition of intimate for Students

intimated; intimating

:to say indirectly :hint at

She intimated that I should go.

intimate

play

adjective in·ti·mate \ ˈin-tə-mət \

Definition of intimate for Students

1 :very personal or private

intimate thoughts

2 :marked by very close association

intimate friends

3 :suggesting closeness or warmth :cozy

an intimate restaurant

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intimately

adverb

intimate

play

noun in·ti·mate \ ˈin-tə-mət \

Definition of intimate for Students

:a very close and trusted friend

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intimate

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intimately

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intimate

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intimate

Definition of intimate for English Language Learners

intimate

Definition of intimate for English Language Learners

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