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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buttoned-up
Jesse Granger, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Is their family more buttoned-up?
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
Brown may never be called buttoned-up.
—Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Most people on LinkedIn try to be professional, buttoned-up, and safe.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
After centuries of weathering and exposure, the colors seen in historical homes today can appear muted and buttoned-up, even drab.
—Cornelia Powers, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
It can be worn buttoned-up or open over a mock turtleneck with jeans.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Use it as a layering piece or wear it buttoned-up on its own.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2024
The Bottom Line The era of buttoned-up, corporate talk is over.
—Lindsey Groepper, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Both teams were so buttoned-up defensively that the best players had to fight for every inch.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Is their family more buttoned-up?
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
Brown may never be called buttoned-up.
—Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Most people on LinkedIn try to be professional, buttoned-up, and safe.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
After centuries of weathering and exposure, the colors seen in historical homes today can appear muted and buttoned-up, even drab.
—Cornelia Powers, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
It can be worn buttoned-up or open over a mock turtleneck with jeans.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Use it as a layering piece or wear it buttoned-up on its own.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2024
The Bottom Line The era of buttoned-up, corporate talk is over.
—Lindsey Groepper, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttoned-up
Adjective
-
The sale of the detached house in the 2300 block of Fruitdale Ave., San Jose, has been finalized.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
-
Through it all, there’s the metronomic wash of the tides onto the sand, waves lapping the beach, the undulation of the ocean, and the cityscape of Rockaway, with its large apartment buildings and detached houses, in the background.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
That changed with ecclesiastical reforms introduced under Pope Gregory X, who mandated a minimum 10-day waiting period to allow time for prayer and reflection—and for distant cardinals to travel to Rome.—
Barney Henderson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
-
At least eight other Iowa hospitals have stopped offering inpatient mental health care since 2007, forcing people in crisis to seek help at distant facilities.—
Tony Leys,
NPR,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Distributors — dear friends and colleagues — lament the same familiar woes: not enough films, or too many; the best titles are overpriced; the coffee is terrible; the weather is unbearable — too hot, too cold or both.—
Martin Moszkowicz,
Deadline,
17 May 2025
-
The case went cold for years but in 2022, according to a university news release, crime data analyst, Nikol Mitchell reopened the cold case while working in Utah’s Statewide Information and Analysis Center.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
During the performance, the sky was clear with few clouds, and the ocean breeze kept the temperature pleasantly cool.—
Billboard Brasil,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
-
Citizens of Humanity Ayla baggy cuffed mid-rise straight-leg jeans $260 NET-A-PORTER 3.1 Phillip Lim ballet flat $395 NORDSTROM Bring a touch of cool to your denim with of-the-moment sneakerinas.—
Renata Joffre,
Vogue,
4 May 2025
Adjective
-
Economists and geopolitical experts, however, are more reserved in their appraisal of the agreement.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
-
Drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of the reserved marinade and toss to coat.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buttoned-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttoned-up. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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