CLOSE-MOUTHED Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

closemouthed

adjective

ˈklōz-ˌmau̇tht

Definition of closemouthed

as in silent

given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge he remained closemouthed about their activities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in reserved

tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) encourage the closemouthed children to speak up and not be shy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 closemouthed 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for closemouthed

Adjective

On the whole, the average person generally prefers CEOs to stay silent on divisive political issues, the study found.

— Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Proponents tout thousands of short-term construction jobs while remaining completely silent on long-term traffic, property value, and localized economic and environmental impact studies.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of silent

Adjective

Texas Football season ticket holders will not have access to their reserved seats for the show, and there aren’t any presales through Texas Athletics.

— Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026
Santaland will be located on the eighth floor, featuring Santa photos, festive treats and surprises with select dates open to the public and others for reserved appointments.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of reserved

Adjective

Hours after the attack, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said authorities found the bodies of three of the suspect's close family members -- two women and a man -- inside of his home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, a city about 100 miles northeast of Krakow.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
Purdue cut the deficit to 34-29 on Ijeboi's TD run but couldn't get any closer.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of close

Adjective

Then the reviews, of course, completely dismissed me as being like some old dumb blonde thing.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026
Basically all that's left for the dumb human to do when using the all-new Arrowmax Arrowspace S1 electric smart driver is dropping the bit in the tip and holding the driver steady – the S1 takes care of everything else.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of dumb

Adjective

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the loser in Brazil’s presidential elections Sunday, arrived in Miami on Wednesday after fleeing his home country in a secretive mission that has drawn speculation and controversy.

— Florencia Cabral, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Even the most mind-bending of three-hour documentaries doesn’t have enough time to fully tackle the quagmire that was the secretive biotech startup.

— Victoria Song, The Verge, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of secretive

Adjective

His answer was a restrained yet expressive material palette, anchored by rich walnut millwork and reflective surfaces that tie the rooms together.

— Nicole Gates Anderson, Architectural Digest, 28 Oct. 2026
Dishes quickly crowded the table, each showing the restrained elegance of that region’s cuisine.

— Christopher Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of restrained

Adjective

Even Denmark, which was previously reticent about regional collaboration, warmed to collective defense efforts.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
While reticent to choose his best career highlight, Stock called last spring’s playoff run memorable.

— Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of reticent

Browse Nearby Words

closely

closemouthed

closeness

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Closemouthed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closemouthed. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of closemouthed

adjective

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