Synonyms of close

close 1 of 9

adjective

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• withdrawn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 careful

giving or sharing as little as possible

the kind of folks who are very close when charity calls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• careful
• tight
• pinching
• mean
• cheap
• selfish
• desirous
• greedy
• parsimonious
• sparing
• small
• miserly
• spare
• stingy
• conserving
• economical
• ungenerous
• closefisted
• saving
• tightfisted
• uncharitable
• pinchpenny
• niggardly
• chintzy
• penurious
• mingy
• stinting
• penny-pinching
• chary
• niggard
• shabby
• grasping
• thrifty
• economizing
• frugal
• avid
• sordid
• grudging
• covetous
• mercenary
• envious
• hoggish
• avaricious
• acquisitive
• itchy
• begrudging
• inhospitable
• skimping
• 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
• philanthropical
• openhearted
• wasting
• wasteful
• dissipating
• greathearted
• unthrifty
• profligate
• prodigal
• spendthrift
• good-hearted
• squandering
• thriftless
• splurging
• 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 9

verb (1)

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 9

adverb

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
• thereabout
• hereabout
• alongside
• hereabouts
• conveniently
• handily
• hereaways
• hereaway
• thereabouts
• accessibly

close

4 of 9

noun (1)

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

close

5 of 9

noun (2)

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
• closing
• end
• 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
• copestone
• crescendo
• tip-top
• coup de grace
• crown
• meridian
• capstone
• aftermath
• acme
• epilogue
• tail end
• coda
• postscript
• coup de grâce
• tag end
• epilog
• anticlimax
• shank

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

close (down)

6 of 9

verb (2)

as in to close

to stop the operations of

the coal mine was closed down in the 1930s

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• start
• open
• build
• expand

close (off)

7 of 9

verb (3)

as in to guard

to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point

museum officials closed off the west wing after the fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guard
• block (off)
• wall (off)
• curtain (off)
• screen (off)
• blockade
• bar
• gate
• barricade
• fence
• lock
• hedge
• obstruct
• dike
• bolt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• open
• reopen
• unbar
• unblock
• unbolt

closedown

8 of 9

noun (3)

as in cessation

the stopping of a process or activity

ordered a closedown of operations until the cause of the mine explosion could be determined

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuation
• continuance
• extension
• persistence
• prolongation

close one's doors (to)

9 of 9

phrase

as in eliminate

to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of

The company closed its doors to would-be investors.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• eliminate
• exclude
• ban
• shut out
• bar
• rule out
• count (out)
• freeze out
• except
• prevent
• exile
• block
• prohibit
• close out
• expel
• suspend
• debar
• ward (off)
• preclude
• hinder
• weed (out)
• banish
• obviate
• stave off
• impede
• blacklist
• excommunicate
• throw out
• cease
• comb (out)
• ostracize
• halt
• deter
• blackball
• obstruct
• check off
• oust
• deport
• disregard
• discontinue

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• include
• receive
• admit
• accept
• take in
• welcome
• embrace
• entertain
• unban

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