CLOSES IN (ON) Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

closes in (on)

verb

present tense third-person singular of close in (on)

as in approaches

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for closes in (on)

Verb

Residents and visitors have been urged to closely monitor the weather and the watches or warnings as Lowell approaches the islands, the hurricane center said.

— Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2026
The attack on mail ballots comes as Germany approaches a potentially historic state election that could shatter one of the taboos of its postwar political order by opening the door to a far-right government.

— Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of approaches

Verb

Saturday’s first day of the Emmys saw awards presented to unscripted series, variety shows and specials shows and variety specials, while Sunday’s show focuses on dramas, comedies and limited series.

— Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Instead, Tehran’s new leverage focuses on the strait that is crucial to global oil and natural gas shipments and was seen as an international waterway before the war began.

— Toqa Ezzidin, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of focuses

Verb

While the sample was a false positive, the FDA’s traceback investigation still converges on Taylor Farms lettuce as a suspect, and people should continue to obey the company’s voluntary recall, the FDA confirmed on X, formerly known as Twitter.

— Janelle Mella, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026
The reviewer's eye glides over patterns it has been trained to trust, and the review converges to a ritual approval regardless of risk profile.

— Kevin Cushnie, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of converges

Verb

As Bohm's trial nears, Thompson has been reliving the memories from that night and the terrible weeks that followed.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
As Cuba’s hot summer nears its end with no sign of regime change on the communist-run island, Cubans continue to suffer miserable living conditions as the country’s humanitarian crisis gets disturbingly worse.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of nears

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.

Browse Nearby Words

closes in

closes in (on)

closes (off)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Closes in (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closes%20in%20%28on%29. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of closes in (on)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shofar

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes