CLOSE-IN Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

close in 1 of 2

verb

ˈklōz-

Definition of close in

as in to close

to come near or nearer the eagle closed in on its prey

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to darken

to grow dark with evening closing in we knew we had to find shelter fairly soon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

close-in

2 of 2

adjective

as in convenient

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 in

Adjective

For city fishers at close-in locations, following a few guidelines will help protect the water, its fish and the overall tradition for future generations, experts said. — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 2 June 2026 The close-in Washington suburbs are home to a handful of beautiful private clubs — all of them expensive. — Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 15 May 2026 Over several hours, the American warships and supporting aircraft mounted a layered defense, firing their five-inch naval guns and their close-in weapon systems known as CIWS, officials said. — James Laporta, CBS News, 7 May 2026 The Bulwark is the tank of the party and focuses on close-in combat. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for close in

Recent Examples of Synonyms for close in

Verb

When the device is closed, a smaller exterior screen on the front cover provides quick access to key apps and features.

— Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
However, a transaction is just one moment in the lifecycle of an investment, and the best brokers don’t disappear after closing.

— Lee Kiser, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of close

Verb

China’s growth target is already its lowest since 1991, and the economic picture is darkened further by a real estate downturn that is straining local government finances and undercutting spending capacity, Goldman Sachs said in a note to clients.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
When a treatment starts, the room darkens, and chromatherapy lights cast soft purple, blue, and red hues across the room as a soft mist showers down from the ceiling.

— Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of darken

Verb

Antarctica tourism usually takes place between November and March, and most of it comes via ships leaving from South America and arriving around the Antarctic Peninsula, the northernmost arm of the mainland.

— Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
XPeng’s update comes as Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot faces further delays, with production now expected to begin in the coming months and commercial sales targeted for the second half of 2027.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of come

Verb

With minimal humidity, near-perfect clear-sky frequency and vast empty horizons, Namibia offers the kind of slow, immersive darkness that makes dusking feel less like a trend and more like a return to something ancient.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The park is open from daylight to dusk for visitors and 24/7 for campers.

— Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 15 Jan. 2026

Definition of dusk

Adjective

Hugo Weaving’s Frank Harkness, the nefarious birth father of agent River Cartwright (Jack Lowdon), also makes an appearance, and the trailer previews plenty of explosions, shootouts and even hand-to-hand combat.

— Lisa de los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
At this point, the owners and the union are merely sparring, lobbing jabs back and forth without really engaging in true hand-to-hand combat.

— Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of hand-to-hand

Verb

Backup quarterback Drew Lock said the praise for the high-flying Rams hasn’t come up a lot in Seattle’s locker room.

— Andrew Destin, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Brown and Martin each wrote part of the new song, while Martin and Helms came up with new jokes to replace the old-timey ones from the Stanleys’ bit.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of come up

Adjective

Plus, don’t miss out on handy finds like this handheld vacuum that makes quick work of small messes in tight spaces and an insulated Yeti tumbler that keeps water cold all day long.

— Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026
This all-in-one portable vehicle jumpstarter also works as a flashlight and power bank, giving you multiple handy functions in one compact device.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of handy

Browse Nearby Words

close-grained

close in

close-in

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Close in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close%20in. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of close in

verb

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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