1
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge
he remained closemouthed about their activities
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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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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
-
This battery system will enable up to 12 hours of silent scientific operations powered entirely by batteries, reducing both emissions and underwater noise that can interfere with sensitive marine research.—
Dea Jusufi,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
The system’s movements are perfectly precise, silent and ultra-smooth.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
In her early public appearances, she was often seen with her head bowed and her gaze upward, a posture that, alongside her soft-spoken demeanor, led the British press to characterize her as timid and reserved.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
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Also not helping matters is Center Rep’s rather reserved staging of the show.—
Charles Lewis III,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
There wasn’t much excitement in the building, despite the fact that the game was close until the end.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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He's remained close with the Solari family and has taken Teo Solari under his wing.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
For a few hours, there's no doom and gloom on the news, no family drama, no Slack notifications, no people fighting about dumb stuff on social media.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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That there are actually people trying to turn this guy – the name is Brendan Sorsby — into some kind of victim is just as dumb as that injunction.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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The alleged plot to attack Sunday night's UFC event at the White House may have been unraveled by a worried mother who noticed her son's growing obsession with guns, tactical gear and secretive online communications.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
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While Congress reauthorizes the legal framework that allows for the collection of the communications, a secretive court known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court authorizes the government to conduct the surveillance programs under certain parameters for up to a year.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Elinor Dashwood is the epitome of Sense—self-contained, controlled, restrained.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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When a court issues a domestic violence protective order, federal law prohibits the restrained person from possessing a gun.—
Sativa Banks,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Only six minutes into this match, New Zealand has scored to take a 1-0 lead and temporarily quiet what had been a raucous crowd tilted toward the Iranian team.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
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The end of mandatory minicamp ushers in the quietest time on the NFL calendar.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Let’s start with the trade deadline, something the Rockies have often been reticent to maneuver in the past.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
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The concierge takes responsibility for all the aspects of cross-selling that customer-facing staff may be reticent to undertake, such as conversion tracking and knowing all the key internal contacts.—
Marty Dauer,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Closemouthed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closemouthed. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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