closeness

Definition of closenessnext
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as in proximity
the state or condition of being near we were surprised by the closeness of everything to our downtown loft

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 closeness The performance of closeness can become a substitute for the practice of closeness – the messy work of getting to know another person and responding to their needs with attention, care, and sacrifice over time. Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Catholic roots This broader understanding of sanctuary is rooted in Catholic social teaching – especially the idea of accompaniment, which prioritizes closeness to people who are suffering. Gina Perez, The Conversation, 21 July 2026 Building Bonds Early Biddulph encourages parents to nurture the child-aunt relationship early, before the teen years, so that trust and closeness are already in place when life gets complicated. Annabelle Canela, Parents, 18 July 2026 The closeness of the team helps soften one of the more difficult parts of the job. Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 15 July 2026 In the closeness of the moment, their seeming friendship allows Jérôme to tell Claire that her boyfriend might be cheating on her. André Aciman, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 Name your need gently, leave room for theirs, and welcome closeness that can actually last. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026 The contradictions of their closeness aren’t papered over; the unease is allowed to linger, inflamed and ineradicable. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026 Intimacy strengthens once your attention turns toward trust and emotional exchanges, but mixed signals can also expose where one person wants closeness and the other simply wants control. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closeness
Noun
  • Mitchell agreed that the secrecy raised patient safety concerns.
    Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • In a climate where plenty of artists prefer to cloak their reference material in secrecy, Kelela draws a refreshingly complete map.
    Lawrence Burney, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • Like the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb is an exceedingly narrow waterway through which a significant chunk of the global economy transits.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • The healthiest version of the creator economy shouldn’t leave people in endless one-way communication.
    Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Sleep debt, chronic stress, and metabolic dysfunction not only sap energy but also distort the accuracy of perception.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Since 2018-19, no Premier League centre-back (with 900-plus minutes of game time) has logged a higher passing accuracy than Stones’ 94 per cent.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Noun
  • Pettit will perform on a Ruckers-style harpsichord built in 1987 by the late San Diego builder Ronald Haas, bringing an authenticity and intimacy to masterworks by Johann Sebastian Bach and François Couperin, a news release states.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
  • With both boys squarely in their young adulthood, the film not only uses intimacy to depict the evolution of their relationship but also offers a realistic representation of teen sexuality.
    Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • While technical rigor, reputation, and proximity to your industry or market still matter, today’s decision is increasingly driven by a firm’s ownership structure and its ability to advise beyond compliance.
    Louis Grassi, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The hotel is also a popular spot for meetings and events, thanks in part to its ballrooms, boardrooms, and proximity to the Montreal Convention Center, a 12-minute walk away.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • This carefulness is clearly strategic.
    Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • There was no carefulness in it.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • McCarthy is not the first Hollywood conservative to discuss the industry’s secretiveness over Republicanism.
    Zack Sharf, Variety, 19 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Witt has dealt with back tightness at various points this season.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
  • The Red Sox shut him down with lat tightness the following Sunday.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Closeness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closeness. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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