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
-
The first call for help was a silent text message from an emergency beacon, mobilizing a small army of rescuers dispatched from different directions.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Despite being a quick walk from downtown Palm Springs, the Historic Tennis Club is snoozy and near-silent—perfect for unwinding after a busy day.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Top each lettuce half with 2 tablespoons burnt garlic Caesar dressing and sprinkle with reserved bread crumbs, divided between plates.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Top everything with the reserved 2/3 cup of cheese.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Visiting boats moor in the bay but keep to the far side, close enough to admire and distant enough to ignore.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The senior got the final two outs, which kept the score close enough for the Hawks to tie the score in their half of the fifth inning.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Before, Tatum had only thought of himself as a dumb jock on the football team.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Feb. 2026
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Hustling up the twisty Route 33 in California’s Ojai Valley, the C-HR felt responsive, but the lateral pitching at speed, coupled with a 4,300-pound curb weight, discourages you from carrying a dumb pace into corners.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The infamously secretive set apparently wasn't closely guarded enough.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Chloe describes Maxwell as a secretive person.—
Lauren A. White,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
So far, the looks have featured modern takes on retro looks, eye-catching juxtapositions, and impactful yet restrained looks.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The script here is too stiffly restrained to a fault to make much of an emotional impact, even as spending time with these actors historically is never without pleasures.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The loafer mule emerged as a quiet breakout this season after a decade-and change of laying dormant, with Bottega Veneta, Victoria Beckham, Calvin Klein, and Celine all incorporating versions of the silhouette on their spring runways.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
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More than 100,000 fans descended on more than 800 hobby shops across 25 countries, turning what used to be a quiet Saturday ritual into something closer to a championship parade.—
Andy Scholes,
CNN Money,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Carr suspects drought has something to do with it, a sign that the natural world is buckling under skyrocketing temperatures and reticent rains.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
In a video tribute before the game, which featured Ullmark’s comments expressing why athletes are reticent to speak on mental health, before complimenting Senators fans, those same fans delivered tributes and welcome-backs.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Closemouthed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closemouthed. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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