as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
a buttoned-up colleague who had no interest in talking about anything but work, even at parties
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Recent Examples of buttoned (up)
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
And other CEOs don’t like their meetings to be so buttoned-up, just like Faulkner.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
But whether the buttoned-up or conciliatory responses are the right tack is still an open question.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
The button-down shirt Pop the collar, roll up the sleeves, wear it loose or completely buttoned-up—a relaxed button-down shirt is an easygoing layer that adds instant polish to jeans and full skirts.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2025
In an industry that can feel so buttoned-up, Bashment offers something sacred: release.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 24 June 2025
One was that league investigators would be more buttoned-up and by the book, with the benefit of attorney-client privilege as well.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Jost is clean-cut and buttoned-up; Sherman is young and hip.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
Verb
This last one had modern detailing on it too, including an asymmetric, buttoned-up silhouette and tapered trousers.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
And other CEOs don’t like their meetings to be so buttoned-up, just like Faulkner.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
But whether the buttoned-up or conciliatory responses are the right tack is still an open question.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
The button-down shirt Pop the collar, roll up the sleeves, wear it loose or completely buttoned-up—a relaxed button-down shirt is an easygoing layer that adds instant polish to jeans and full skirts.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2025
In an industry that can feel so buttoned-up, Bashment offers something sacred: release.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 24 June 2025
One was that league investigators would be more buttoned-up and by the book, with the benefit of attorney-client privilege as well.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Jost is clean-cut and buttoned-up; Sherman is young and hip.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttoned (up)
Adjective
-
Due to his austere and detached manner, he is known to immediately inspire awe in his patients.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The consensus narrative of institutional finance has become so detached from empirical reality that diagnosing the problem requires abandoning its vocabulary for the precision of mathematics.—
Benjamin D. Summers,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Rideshare missions to low-Earth orbit are becoming more common, but spacecraft departing for more distant destinations like the L1 Lagrange point are rare.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Detainees are currently sent to distant jails in Vernon and Johnson County.—
PJ Green
September 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Several factors may contribute to this rate, including the state's large and growing elderly population, higher rates of alcohol consumption and obesity and cold and ice winter weather conditions.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The Nuit Rouge collection will likely resonate with Trudon devotees, olfactory aficionados, and anyone in search of a new cold-weather signature, all while staying true to the artisanal luxury that defines the house.—
Michael Stefanov,
Robb Report,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These foundations include having a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, avoiding technology use at night, and cultivating a cool, dark and quiet sleeping environment.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
28 Sep. 2025
-
We got disconnected, and this whole resurgence of The Clique online has reconnected us in this really cool, organic and magical way.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The film shows the unspoken love and care expressed by gestures among the emotionally more reserved Chinese families, while in the film, the Qeelin jewelry becomes part of that special moment with auspicious meanings.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Top with reserved sausage, corn, and tomatoes.—
Liz Mervosh,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buttoned (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttoned%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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