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
By and large, this is a secretive, closemouthed group of individuals who want nothing more than to say little and share even less.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 3 July 2018
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
By and large, this is a secretive, closemouthed group of individuals who want nothing more than to say little and share even less.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 3 July 2018
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
-
Occidental Studios, which dates back to 1913, was once used by Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks to make silent films.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
-
The main lot of Occidental Studios, a complex near downtown Los Angeles that touts its legacy dating back to the silent film era, is on the market.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
And after all of that: a reserved viewing space on Pier 17.—
Laurie Werner,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
-
Eastern Conference executive No. 2: More quiet, on the reserved side.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Atletico Madrid are keeping close tabs on Andy Robertson.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
-
Or, that their connection through her stepdad was not close enough to matter.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
-
Indeed, a central question surrounding the new resort is if one of the world’s most secretive and repressive countries is prepared to make more of a new foray into international tourism, potentially adding to its foreign cash reserves and prestige.—
Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
26 June 2025
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The drama all unfolded in the secretive Office of Municipal Services Assessment, a unit created by Mayor Adams to evaluate the performance of city agencies that operated out of 375 Pearl St. behind police headquarters.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Lemon The little black dress of garnishes, at once flirty and restrained.—
Amiel Stanek,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
16 June 2025
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With two monochrome takes on intricate guilloché work the new dial designs come across as more restrained, even with baguette-cut indices.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Without it, people go quiet, engagement drops and growth stalls.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
Young visitors will enjoy the splash pad and water slide, while guests ages 18 and older are welcome to relax in the quiet adults-only pool and hot tub.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Harry and Meghan have always been reticent to let the public get a proper look at their children (Harry, especially, is not a fan of invasive press, being the son of Princess Diana and all), so this is maybe a compromise?—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
16 June 2025
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State and local officials were reticent to weigh in on what the mortgage sale could mean for the Fiserv deal.—
Taylor O’Connor,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Closemouthed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closemouthed. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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