buttoned-up 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbə-tᵊnd-ˈəp How to pronounce buttoned-up (audio)
Definition of buttoned-upnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

buttoned (up)

2 of 2

verb

past tense of button (up)
as in zipped (up)

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of buttoned-up
Adjective
Butlers, once portrayed as buttoned-up, silver tray-carrying domestics, now manage complex staff, technology, security and logistics across multiple properties. — Robert Frank, CNBC, 10 July 2026 Angela Rayner Starmer is often criticized for being buttoned-up and lawyerly. — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 May 2026 Aidala is folksy, while Agnifilo is more buttoned-up. — ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 Raquel Welch brought her signature va-va-voom and fashion-forward style to the Oscars, with low necklines, high slits, and daring silhouettes, during a time when the ceremony dress code was much more (literally) buttoned-up. — Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buttoned-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttoned-up
  1. detached
  2. distant
  3. cold
  4. cool
  5. reserved
Adjective
  • Safety regulators said that an exterior panel on the vehicle could become detached while driving, creating a hazardous environment for other vehicles.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Many clutched their pearls at the teen’s indifference, but the clip went viral as younger audiences embraced his detached demeanor.
    — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of detached
Adjective
  • Another fascinating possibility nuclear-electric thrusters open is missions into interstellar space and the distant Oort cloud within a single lifetime.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The metropolis appears to be on the outside looking in, with Las Vegas and Seattle considered distant frontrunners to land the 31st and 32nd teams.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of distant
Adjective
  • Slanting rays of cold November sunlight picked out every point on his big rack and colored them a rich antique ivory.
    — ANGUS CAMERON, Outdoor Life, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Jim Davies, a member of the El Dorado County Fish and Wildlife Commission, said collisions become particularly troublesome when migratory deer move from the Sierra Nevada into the foothills and valley during colder months.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • Cardboard boxes and paper bags of food items being stored directly on floor of walk-in cooler and dry storage area.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Using tongs, immediately transfer to a large bowl of ice water and let cool.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of cool
Adjective
  • Transfer to bowl with reserved dressing and toss to coat evenly.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The figure most responsible for this was Robert Katzman, a reserved, soft-spoken neurologist who chaired the department at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in the Bronx.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of reserved

Browse Nearby Words

buttoned
buttoned-up
buttoned (up)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buttoned-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttoned-up. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All