close 1 of 5

adjective

ˈklōs How to pronounce close (audio)
Definition of closenext
1
as in crowded
having little space between items or parts the soldiers marched in close formation against the enemy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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4
as in intimate
closely acquainted a small wedding ceremony that was limited to close friends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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6
as in cheap
giving or sharing as little as possible the kind of folks who are very close when charity calls

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7
as in breathless
lacking fresh air a small room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere

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8
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy a close analysis of the box-office performance of action movies

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

close

2 of 5

verb

ˈklōz How to pronounce close (audio)
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to close (down)
to stop the operations of the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve

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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

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4
as in to stop
to come to an end the services closed with a short prayer

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5
as in to come
to come near or nearer the two groups closed with each other from opposite sides of the field

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close

3 of 5

adverb

ˈklōs How to pronounce close (audio)
as in in
at, within, or to a short distance or time the stranded passengers drew close for reassurance

Synonyms & Similar Words

close

4 of 5

noun (1)

ˈklōs How to pronounce close (audio)
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

close

5 of 5

noun (2)

ˈklōz How to pronounce close (audio)
1
as in ending
the stopping of a process or activity at the close of the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conclusion
the last part of a process or action managed to conduct the negotiations to a satisfactory close

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 close
Adjective
Still, this game could be closer than many people expect because these teams know each other so well. — Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 The race has even divided close friends like Lori Goldman and Mimi Price-Miletic. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
The hotel was already on its second life after closing about 10 years prior. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Obviously, Tropicana Field is indoors, while American Family Field has a roof that can be opened and closed. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Bringing suppliers closer together The initiative aims to extend Taiwan’s overseas manufacturing expansion beyond major technology companies to the smaller businesses that supply them. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 The Denver Broncos held on to win a close-scoring home game against the Seattle Seahawks during the Week 6 Thursday night football showdown at Empower Field at Mile High. — Jack Lowenstein, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
The 2027 run will bring the Run For Your Lives Tour to a close, wrapping Iron Maiden's 50th anniversary celebration of its early catalog. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 While Zelich's convictions brought the case to a close, Simonson and Gamez's families continued to grapple with their loss. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for close
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close
  1. crowded
  2. near
  3. narrow
  4. intimate
  5. silent
  6. tight
  7. breathless
  8. accurate
Adjective
  • Congress weighs competing proposals Anthropic’s draft enters a crowded legislative debate over how the United States should regulate frontier AI.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Ofelia Montes de Oca, a 56-year-old resident who has lived in Pinecrest for 40 years, was among those in the crowded cafe.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of crowded
Adjective
  • Detection of near-surface ice is of interest both scientifically as well as in support of future human expeditions to Mars.
    — Leonard David, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Multiple news outlets reported that Anthropic, at an investor presentation ahead of its planned IPO expected in the near future, announced its sales grew 45% to $17 billion last quarter.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of near
Adjective
  • The decision to set that tone staggering through all 10 minutes of the extended cut might scan as raw inspiration, placing Spacemen 3 on a narrow band from La Monte Young and Terry Riley to some brilliant dro)))ne future.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Recent polls have shown Jackson holding only a narrow lead over Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.
    — DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Dyrholm, whose credits include Susanne Bier’s Oscar-winner In a Better World, Magnus von Horn’s The Girl With The Needle and Nikolaj Arcel’s A Royal Affair, will play Linda, an intimacy coordinator who struggles to form intimate connections.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • So these are a class of fungi that form a very intimate association with the vast majority of plants.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of intimate
Adjective
  • Final Thoughts The Hisense 8,000 BTU UltraSlim Smart Inverter is a standout window air conditioner that effortlessly balances sleek design, near-silent operation, and top-tier performance.
    — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The California Democratic Party opposes the measure, but many of its leading officials have stayed silent.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Certain oils can soften dry, flaky skin and help reduce moisture loss, which may be especially helpful if your scalp feels tight or dry after shampooing.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Republicans are fighting to hold on to the Texas Senate seat, as polls point to a tight race between Paxton and Democratic opponent James Talarico.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • Flaco the owl became a celebrity Central Park resident, with breathless news coverage of Flaco’s impressive self-preservation skills and, eventually, mournful obituaries when Flaco died after flying into a building.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The vision of a utopian domestic future took a strange turn during the Cold War, marrying the breathless excitement of the space age with the existential dread of nuclear annihilation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of breathless
Adjective
  • State officials said the isolated instances of noncitizens voting, if accurate, are not evidence of widespread voter fraud.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • To make good decisions, consumers need to rely on accurate information, but much of the hype around peptides is misleading.
    — Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of accurate

Phrases Containing close

Browse Nearby Words

clops
close
close call
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Cite this Entry

“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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