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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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
-
How, of all institutions, does a Holocaust Museum stay silent?—
Samuel S. Flax,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
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But at the time of each service honoring a fallen veteran, the volunteers fell silent and performed the honors in sync.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Adjective
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Sam, however, is a pretty reserved guy with a modest voice.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
23 May 2026
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Recognized as the world's largest single-day sporting event, the Indy 500 is expected to draw approximately 350,000-plus fans, with reserved grandstand seating already selling out for the second consecutive year.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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Then, style it with jeans to hit the town for drinks with your closest friends.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
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Here, over a dozen or so hammocks hang from palm trees, swaying just over the water, close enough to dip your toes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, one of my chief complaints about some contemporary thrillers is the feeling that characters are required to do dumb stuff by the unseen hand of the author, just so more crazy twists can happen.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
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But Williamson isn’t usually dumb.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Schneider plays David, a reticent young man with the soulful-hobo air of a Beat poet, who makes a living as an events photographer but whose private passion is a secretive lifelong project, inherited from his father, documenting the changing Parisian suburbs.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
18 May 2026
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Possible sharing of nuclear secrets The claim that North Korea was the likely recipient of the two reactors allegedly aboard the ship comes after the secretive totalitarian regime released images in December 2025 of its first nuclear submarine.—
Pau Mosquera,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Policymakers in Tallahassee have shown that low taxes, restrained spending, and pro-growth priorities produce tangible benefits for residents.—
Nicole Huyer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
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Vocally, vulnerable verses gradually give way to ecstatic displays of emotion, and the instrumentation follows a similar pattern, with a restrained acoustic accompaniment at the start, and a multi-instrumental orchestration at the climax.—
Angelica Frey,
JSTOR Daily,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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The Biltmore is polished, quiet, and—despite its size—manages not to feel at all intimidating.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
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My occupations have given me a happy, humble, quiet life, but always nagging in the back of my mind has been a case of impostor syndrome.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Where the two artists differ is how Avedon imprinted his specific style on his art, while Howard is more reticent to do so.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
20 May 2026
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Trump was notably out of character throughout his stay here, deferential to his host, marveling at displays of Chinese power and reticent to speak with the press.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Closemouthed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closemouthed. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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