1
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge
he remained closemouthed about their activities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)
encourage the closemouthed children to speak up and not be shy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of closemouthed
There’s also the closemouthed, menacing technician who lives on a houseboat and raises snakes; the actress first hired for the show’s leading part who dropped out of the role before shooting began; and the unknown burglar who fled the frightened player’s house.
—
Tom Nolan, WSJ, 23 Dec. 2022
Hutton’s gaptoothed smile replaced the closemouthed gaze and white eyeliner of Vogue models of the 1960s.
—Washington Post, 25 Dec. 2021
Ever since the couple pulled up stakes and moved away from the United Kingdom in March, their new spokespeople have been even more closemouthed.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2020
Led by Vice President Temer, whose cryptic, closemouthed demeanor has his rivals comparing him to a butler in a horror movie, the centrists anchoring Ms. Rousseff’s coalition broke away last week.
—Simon Romero, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2016
Tom Nolan, WSJ, 23 Dec. 2022
Hutton’s gaptoothed smile replaced the closemouthed gaze and white eyeliner of Vogue models of the 1960s.
—Washington Post, 25 Dec. 2021
Ever since the couple pulled up stakes and moved away from the United Kingdom in March, their new spokespeople have been even more closemouthed.
—Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2020
Led by Vice President Temer, whose cryptic, closemouthed demeanor has his rivals comparing him to a butler in a horror movie, the centrists anchoring Ms. Rousseff’s coalition broke away last week.
—Simon Romero, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closemouthed
Adjective
-
March roster-building is the draft’s silent narrator.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Police have arrested a 21-year-old man in the 2024 shooting death of a popular North Miami Beach barber, a development that came more than a year after the crime, following new information from a witness who said fear kept her silent for months.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
General parking is $25 per vehicle on the day of the show, and other options are available for season pass, reserved and premier parking spots.—
Joseph Hernandez
March 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In contrast to the hockey arena, Millett Hall has no suites, no club level and only three small reserved sections that aren’t first-come, first-served.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The most appropriate action is to drive to the closest shelter available.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The virus can spread through close contact with someone who is infected, such as by sharing food or eating utensils.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Paige is little more than a dumb blonde stereotype, another underwritten female character in Sheridan’s growing oeuvre, but Chapman laces her babyish whining with surprising bite, while showing a knack for physical comedy.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Mar. 2026
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How did an Ivy League grad from Penn get so dumb?—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Khamenei, a secretive 56-year-old cleric, is only the third supreme leader in the history of the Islamic Republic.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Army vehicles carrying the launchers and other equipment arrived past midnight in a highly secretive mission criticized by residents.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Downstairs, Bar Calico has a more restrained vibe.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Refined, deliberate, restrained.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The terrain is demanding, but the setting—expansive views, shifting light, and quiet trails—creates a rhythm that carries through the rest of the day.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The Omni dock was relatively quiet when self-emptying and automatically dispensed cleaning solution, which was convenient.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
So far, leaders have been reticent to tap reserves.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Kurds entering the war against Iran could have wider repercussions and Iraqi Kurd leaders are reticent to commit, according to a person familiar with their thinking.—
Maria Paula Mijares Torres,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Closemouthed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closemouthed. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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