Synonyms of clammed up

clammed up

verb

past tense of clam up

as in hushed

to stop talking

the little girl clammed up when the doctor came into the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hushed
• dried up
• quieted (down)
• shut up
• dummied up
• settled (down)
• cooled (down)
• calmed (down)
• piped down
• belted up
• held one's tongue
• hemmed
• hawed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• spoke
• talked
• spoke up
• spoke out
• piped up
• spouted (off)
• talked up
• sounded off

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of clammed up

Anyone asked by local or national media over the past few months if they’d been invited to the nuptials clammed up quickly. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

On Israel, a lot of candidates have clammed up. — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

The Arrested Development actor clammed up when Smartless cohost Jason Bateman brought up Arnett's ex-wife and their bathroom habits. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026

The atmosphere had changed—security kept an eye out for media to turn away at the entrance, and golfers clammed up when asked what was going on at the club. — Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Everyone in the theater clammed up, as if embarrassed to have endorsed Max with laughter. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026

But when co-host Maria McErlane looked for details, Norton clammed up. — Joseph Wilkinson, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026

The famously outgoing media personality clammed up, on air and off, thanks to a terrifying stranger. — Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025