Synonyms of close

close 1 of 5

adjective

ˈklōs 

1

as in crowded

having little space between items or parts

the soldiers marched in close formation against the enemy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crowded
• tight
• packed
• dense
• thick
• compact
• jammed
• serried
• squeezed
• pressed
• jam-packed
• overcrowded
• solid
• crammed
• crushed
• massed
• compressed
• hard
• airtight
• congested
• condensed
• snug
• compacted
• impervious
• firm
• wall-to-wall
• impenetrable
• impermeable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• open
• loose
• airy
• spacious
• uncrowded
• roomy
• commodious

2

as in near

not being distant in time, space, or significance

my birthday is close to Christmas

a shopping mall that is very close to the highway

these words are close synonyms

Synonyms & Similar Words

• near
• immediate
• nearby
• neighboring
• coming
• proximate
• next-door
• convenient
• at hand
• nigh
• to hand
• adjacent
• adjoining
• handy
• close-up
• contiguous
• approaching
• abutting
• upcoming
• forthcoming
• bordering
• oncoming
• accessible
• close-in
• hand-to-hand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distant
• far
• deep
• remote
• away
• separated
• far-off
• faraway
• divorced
• removed

3

as in narrow

showing little difference in the standing of the competitors

the election results were so close that the votes had to be recounted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• narrow
• tight
• crowded
• neck and neck
• hairbreadth
• nip and tuck
• down-to-the-wire

4

as in intimate

closely acquainted

a small wedding ceremony that was limited to close friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intimate
• familiar
• friendly
• tight
• near
• comfortable
• inseparable
• bosom
• inward
• affectionate
• dear
• loving
• chummy
• thick
• especial
• social
• easy
• adoring
• buddy-buddy
• gracious
• confidential
• convivial
• clannish
• boon
• cordial
• cozy
• companionable
• warm
• close-knit
• tight-knit
• devoted
• secretive
• affable
• hearty
• neighborly
• snug
• amicable
• sociable
• genial
• gregarious
• fond
• tender
• tenderhearted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distant
• distant
• remote
• cold
• withdrawn
• cool
• detached
• aloof
• unfriendly
• frosty
• antisocial
• reserved
• standoffish
• unsociable

5

as in silent

given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge

she was as close as a stone when it came to talking about her love life

Synonyms & Similar Words

• silent
• quiet
• secretive
• prudent
• dark
• closemouthed
• reticent
• discreet
• tight-mouthed
• uncommunicative
• reserved
• taciturn
• tight-lipped
• sneak
• clandestine
• secret
• surreptitious
• covert
• undercover
• furtive
• sneaky
• stealthy
• underhand
• underhanded
• hugger-mugger

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• open
• communicative
• honest
• frank
• candid
• blunt
• outspoken
• up-front
• out-front
• tactless

6

as in cheap

giving or sharing as little as possible

the kind of folks who are very close when charity calls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cheap
• tight
• stingy
• pinching
• mean
• selfish
• desirous
• greedy
• parsimonious
• sparing
• miserly
• spare
• small
• careful
• conserving
• economical
• closefisted
• ungenerous
• tightfisted
• saving
• uncharitable
• pinchpenny
• chintzy
• penurious
• mingy
• stinting
• penny-pinching
• chary
• shabby
• grasping
• thrifty
• frugal
• economizing
• avid
• sordid
• grudging
• covetous
• envious
• mercenary
• avaricious
• acquisitive
• itchy
• begrudging
• inhospitable
• skimping
• hoggish
• coveting
• rapacious
• resentful
• scrimping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• generous
• bountiful
• liberal
• charitable
• munificent
• bounteous
• unsparing
• openhanded
• unstinting
• free
• handsome
• unselfish
• lavish
• altruistic
• extravagant
• selfless
• hospitable
• benevolent
• overgenerous
• profuse
• kindly
• freehanded
• humanitarian
• compassionate
• philanthropic
• beneficent
• magnanimous
• openhearted
• wasting
• wasteful
• dissipating
• greathearted
• unthrifty
• profligate
• prodigal
• spendthrift
• good-hearted
• squandering
• splurging
• thriftless
• frittering

7

as in breathless

lacking fresh air

a small room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere

Synonyms & Similar Words

• breathless
• suffocating
• thick
• stifling
• stuffy
• heavy
• oppressive
• airless
• unventilated
• fuggy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sweet
• breezy
• airy
• refreshing
• bracing
• brisk
• reviving
• restorative
• unstuffy
• refreshed
• ventilated
• invigorating

8

as in accurate

meeting the highest standard of accuracy

a close analysis of the box-office performance of action movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accurate
• precise
• mathematical
• fine
• exact
• careful
• rigorous
• pinpoint
• correct
• delicate
• strict
• right
• refined
• definite
• spot-on
• definitive
• true
• hairline
• nice
• subtle
• meticulous
• fastidious
• finicky
• finical

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• round
• rough
• approximate
• wrong
• coarse
• inaccurate
• false
• loose
• incorrect
• imprecise
• inexact
• careless
• vague
• unclear
• doubtful
• indefinite
• untrue
• questionable
• unreliable
• dubious
• untrustworthy

close

2 of 5

verb

ˈklōz 

1

as in to shut

to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening

be sure to close the gate when you leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shut
• lock
• seal
• slam
• make
• secure
• fasten
• steek
• latch
• chain
• bar
• bolt
• plug
• batten (down)
• stopper
• bang
• clap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• open
• unlock
• unfasten
• unseal
• unlatch
• unbolt
• unchain
• unbar

2

as in to close (down)

to stop the operations of

the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shut
• close (down)
• close out
• extinguish
• phase out
• suppress
• fail
• silence
• fold
• turn off
• quell
• muzzle
• gag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• start
• open
• build
• expand

3

as in to end

to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point

we'll close the assembly with the singing of our national anthem

Synonyms & Similar Words

• end
• finish
• conclude
• complete
• wind up
• terminate
• close out
• wrap up
• round (off or out)
• put paid to
• perfect
• crown
• ring down the curtain (on)
• consummate
• suspend
• climax
• stop
• halt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• begin
• open
• start
• commence
• inaugurate

4

as in to stop

to come to an end

the services closed with a short prayer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• end
• stop
• conclude
• expire
• halt
• cease
• pass
• go
• finish
• terminate
• die
• determine
• wind up
• discontinue
• leave off
• quit
• lapse
• stall
• wink (out)
• break off
• break up
• elapse
• let up
• bite the dust
• dead-end
• stay
• refrain (from)
• desist (from)
• cut out
• lay off (of)
• suspend
• pause
• pack (up or in)
• break down
• give over
• knock off
• wind down
• peter (out)
• conk (out)
• abate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• persist
• hang on
• extend
• draw out
• prolong
• protract

5

as in to come

to come near or nearer

the two groups closed with each other from opposite sides of the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

• come
• near
• approach
• come up
• close in
• draw on
• reach
• arrive
• nigh
• belly up
• hit
• attain
• land
• gain
• show up
• turn up
• make
• touch
• verge
• border
• sneak up
• creep up
• waltz (up)
• adjoin

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• withdraw
• retire
• retreat
• recede
• back (up or away)
• leave
• go
• remove
• exit
• quit
• walk out
• run away
• pull out
• depart
• clear out
• take off
• shove (off)
• light out

close

3 of 5

adverb

ˈklōs 

as in in

at, within, or to a short distance or time

the stranded passengers drew close for reassurance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• in
• near
• nearby
• around
• by
• at hand
• at close quarters
• nigh
• hard
• within call
• along
• on one's doorstep
• alongside
• hereabouts
• conveniently
• handily
• hereaway
• thereabouts
• accessibly

close

4 of 5

noun (1)

ˈklōs 

as in courtyard

an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls)

a garden in a close at the center of the complex

Synonyms & Similar Words

• courtyard
• enclosure
• yard
• quadrangle
• patio
• court
• quad
• plaza
• place
• square
• atrium
• deck
• terrace
• galleria
• peristyle
• forecourt
• parvis
• curtilage

close

5 of 5

noun (2)

ˈklōz 

1

as in ending

the stopping of a process or activity

at the close of the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ending
• halt
• end
• cessation
• closure
• conclusion
• stop
• stay
• finish
• shutdown
• cutoff
• cease
• offset
• expiration
• termination
• stoppage
• shutoff
• arrest
• discontinuance
• discontinuation
• check
• closedown
• lapse
• pause
• surcease
• arrestment
• suspension
• standstill
• interruption
• break
• phaseout
• abeyance
• moratorium
• layoff
• mop-up
• letup

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuation
• continuance
• extension
• persistence
• prolongation

2

as in conclusion

the last part of a process or action

managed to conduct the negotiations to a satisfactory close

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ending
• conclusion
• end
• closing
• finale
• culmination
• finish
• grand finale
• consummation
• climax
• endgame
• homestretch
• finis
• windup
• capper
• wrap-up
• top
• pinnacle
• peak
• mop-up
• high-water mark
• apex
• summit
• zenith
• crescendo
• tip-top
• crown
• meridian
• capstone
• copestone
• aftermath
• acme
• tail end
• epilogue
• coda
• postscript
• coup de grâce
• tag end
• anticlimax
• shank

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beginning
• opening
• start
• baseline
• dawn
• day one
• introduction
• prelude
• preface
• overture
• nascence
• nascency
• foreword
• preamble
• prologue

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective close contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of close are miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions.

folks who are very close when charity calls

When can miserly be used instead of close?

The synonyms miserly and close are sometimes interchangeable, but miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Where would niggardly be a reasonable alternative to close?

Although the words niggardly and close have much in common, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

In what contexts can parsimonious take the place of close?

While in some cases nearly identical to close, parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When is it sensible to use penurious instead of close?

The meanings of penurious and close largely overlap; however, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

When could stingy be used to replace close?

In some situations, the words stingy and close are roughly equivalent. However, stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.

a stingy child, not given to sharing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of close

Adjective

MacFarlane knew the audience wasn’t expecting an exact resemblance but still wanted to get as close as possible. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 June 2026

The teens were reportedly close friends. —Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026

Verb

The president's team also repaired fountains throughout the city, tore down the White House's East Wing to make way for a ballroom, attempted to close the Kennedy Center for renovations, and drew up plans for a gigantic triumphal arch across the river from the capital in Virginia. —Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 June 2026

The rusted structure was barely hanging on, and its operation was time-consuming for the busy ranchers, who had to lug special tools on all-terrain vehicles and on foot to open or close the mechanism. —Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 18 June 2026

Adverb

Is there any silver lining to this drama, at least in bringing you closer with anyone? —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 15 June 2026

Not to the bottom of the class, but somewhere closer to the middle than the top. —Mac Engel june 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026

Noun

Following months of unsuccessful recovery efforts, NASA has officially begun decommissioning the MAVEN orbiter, bringing to a close an 11-year mission that transformed scientists' understanding of Mars and became one of the agency's most valuable assets at the Red Planet. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 17 June 2026

By the close, money markets had moved an October hike to slightly better than a coin flip, when before almost nobody would’ve bet on it. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 June 2026

Phrases Containing close

• at close quarters
• close (down)
• close (off)
• close call
• close in
• close one's doors (to)
• close one's eyes to
• close out
• close ranks
• close shave