CLAMMING UP Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

clamming up

verb

present participle of clam up

as in drying up

to stop talking the little girl clammed up when the doctor came into the room

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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 clamming up Less sweat-trapping than many synthetic jackets, the Oreus kept me from clamming up while ski-touring in five-degree temps and dissipated sweat quickly when worn after strenuous climbs. — Kelly Bastone, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clamming up

Verb

Qatar is largely offline now because of the Iran war, and more of Australia’s offshore gas fields are drying up.

— Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
This would be best done in late May and early June when the leaves are drying up.

— Dr. Matthew Lisy, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of drying up

Verb

Georgia Tech won its game with undefeated Duke by (ahem) shutting up and getting better during the bye week.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Talk is cheap, but today the automaker put up instead of shutting up by revealing a new Nissan Z concept with a factory T-top, a feature that vanished from sports cars over two decades ago.

— Joel Feder, The Drive, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of shutting up

Verb

Nelson remembers hushing her foster children back to sleep that night and calling 911, anxious for an end to those sleepless nights.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
If you’re used to traditional decluttering strategies that focus on sorting and purging, house hushing might feel strange.

— Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026

Definition of hushing

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clamming

clamming up

clammy

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“Clamming up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clamming%20up. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of clamming up

verb

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