as in to hush
to stop talking
the little girl clammed up when the doctor came into the room
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Recent Examples of clam up
Then, after Austin Jackson sustained his season-ending knee injury in early November in Miami’s loss to the Bills , the Dolphins run game clammed up.
—
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 July 2025
Although that doesn’t account for those opposite behaviors (e.g., clamming up).
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Trump had been more open to diplomacy near the beginning of Israel’s conflict with Iran, leaving his nuclear deal options open with them, but has since clammed up.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 21 June 2025
Win your division, and the odds of winning the World Series improve.
I’m tempted to clam up right there because earning a wild-card berth can also lead to winning a World Series — see Bruce Bochy with the 2012 Giants and 2023 Rangers.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025
Again and again, West apologized to Ciara Miller for talking mess to the New York Times, handling their breakup poorly, and then clamming up all summer.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 May 2025
Meet Them At Their Comfort Level Some CEOs are great at being conversational and engaging on video; others clam up and want to use a script—which severely limits any feeling of authenticity.
—Elizabeth Baskin, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
While Lydia wallows in the residual pain, Paul has clammed up.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 29 July 2025
Although that doesn’t account for those opposite behaviors (e.g., clamming up).
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Trump had been more open to diplomacy near the beginning of Israel’s conflict with Iran, leaving his nuclear deal options open with them, but has since clammed up.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 21 June 2025
Win your division, and the odds of winning the World Series improve.
I’m tempted to clam up right there because earning a wild-card berth can also lead to winning a World Series — see Bruce Bochy with the 2012 Giants and 2023 Rangers.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025
Again and again, West apologized to Ciara Miller for talking mess to the New York Times, handling their breakup poorly, and then clamming up all summer.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 May 2025
Meet Them At Their Comfort Level Some CEOs are great at being conversational and engaging on video; others clam up and want to use a script—which severely limits any feeling of authenticity.
—Elizabeth Baskin, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
While Lydia wallows in the residual pain, Paul has clammed up.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clam up
Verb
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The top itself is an eight-layer cloth construction that satisfyingly hushes the cabin when raised.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
3 Sep. 2025
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In her first solo, Dayhuff hushed her sound over the course of the solo; the others onstage followed her.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, after the Biden administration tapped into shell stockpiles to send to Ukraine, this source has dried up, too.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Sep. 2025
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The Amu Darya was a primary source of water for the Aral Sea, which has largely dried up due to the diversion of its two main rivers (the Amu Darya and Syr Darya) to irrigate Soviet-era cotton fields.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, the voices of the guys who normally can’t shut up about the sanctity of free markets and limited government, have gone quiet.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
27 Aug. 2025
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My mother was like, Savannah, shut up.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clam up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clam%20up. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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