close-knit

adjective

ˈklōs-ˈnit How to pronounce close-knit (audio)
Definition of close-knitnext
as in friendly
bound together by feelings of very close association a close-knit family that constantly keeps in touch

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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-knit Her family was, and is, close-knit. — Andre Mouchard, Daily News, 9 May 2026 Local neighborhoods are so close-knit that everyone knows each other, said Allison Buell, a teacher and coach in Hammond. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026 Leading this loud and lovingly close-knit multigenerational family is Suga Mama (Jo Marie Payton), the feisty grandma and matriarch. — Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 6 Apr. 2026 The family is close-knit, intrusive, rude and menacing. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for close-knit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close-knit
  1. friendly
  2. clannish
  3. cliquish
  4. familiar
  5. cliquey
  6. close
  7. intimate
Adjective
  • The real-estate people who stand to profit from conversion projects claim (unsurprisingly) that adding union-friendly requirements would make their math impossible, effectively killing a program that is already bearing fruit.
    — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
  • But astronaut Stu Roosa started a friendly collaboration that spanned the country and continues today.
    — Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of friendly
Adjective
  • The Machine was lambasted, fairly, for its clannish coördination and its efforts to keep Democratic politics in a certain mainstream style.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • In the Middle Ages, local churchgoers whispered of clannish Jews poisoning wells to kill Christian children and steal their blood for their rituals.
    — Mike Rothschild, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of clannish
Adjective
  • Whitehead wanted to write, but workshops rejected him and the cliquish undergraduate literary scene put him off.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of cliquish
Adjective
  • Children grow up without the network of neighboors, relatives and familiar adults that used to make a place feel safe.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Drawing inspiration from the classic old fashioned cocktail, this fruit-forward IPA delivers familiar flavors in a delightfully different form.
    — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 21 July 2026
Definition of familiar
Adjective
  • The middle daughter of the family has always felt outside of its cliquey confines, what with Lizzy and Jane forming such a pair and Kitty and Lydia (Molly Wright and Grace Hogg-Robinson) practically sharing a brain.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
  • The Friends set was notorious for being cliquey and insular.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of cliquey
Adjective
  • Accessibility for those with mobility impairments There will be a closer drop-off point to the main building, while the longer pathway will allow for wheelchair access, with two bandas accessible via ramps.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026
  • Here’s a closer look at how time in the water can benefit your health.
    — Patricia Neligan, AJC.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of close
Adjective
  • The documentary promises to go beyond the surface level for an intimate look at Young.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
  • Each chamber in the intimate inn has its own character, and pairs thoughtful amenities with tech-forward convenience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2026
Definition of intimate

Browse Nearby Words

close in (on)
close-knit
closely
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Close-knit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close-knit. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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