closet 1 of 3

noun

ˈklä-zət How to pronounce closet (audio)
Definition of closetnext
1
as in pantry
a built-in space for storage behind a door a broom closet for the vacuum, carpet sweeper, ironing board, etc.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in room
an area within a building that has been set apart from surrounding space by a wall a huge walk-in closet

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3
as in cupboard
a storage case typically having doors and shelves a china closet in the Hepplewhite style

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closet

2 of 3

verb

as in to house
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers he closeted himself in his study, vowing not to emerge until he had finished the term paper

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closet

3 of 3

adjective

as in clandestine

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Dissimilar Words

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 closet
Noun
These inexpensive solutions can make a big difference in kitchens, bathrooms, closets and home offices, where clutter builds fastest and pricier organizing systems from specialty stores can run into the hundreds of dollars. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026 The inexpensive pieces can help reshape kitchens, bathrooms, closets, bedrooms and home offices for a fraction of what specialty retailers charge for similar storage solutions. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
France spoke at length about being cast on the show while he was still closeted to his family, which led to his coming out just two days before the premiere on Tuesday's episode of the Dinner's on Me podcast, hosted by Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026 At a time when most employees were closeted, a group of the company’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans employees came together to form the Lambda Network to reshape Kodak’s corporate culture and company policies. — Tamar Carroll, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Adjective
Cool Knits No matter the season, a lightweight yet luxurious knit is a forever closet classic—and this spring the offerings are as cool as ever. — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2025 Was this a closet right-winger keeping tabs on the socialists? — Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 4 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for closet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closet
  1. pantry
  2. room
  3. cupboard
  4. house
  5. clandestine
  6. cabinet
  7. covert
  8. locker
Noun
  • Place them behind the refrigerator and stove, under kitchen and bathroom sinks near pipe entry holes, and in the back corners of pantry shelves.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The kitchen is nearby and is unusually well-served with storage for a tiny house, featuring a ton of cabinetry and shelving, including a pull-out pantry.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of pantry
Noun
  • Rooms There are just 13 rooms, each quietly refined with a riverside color palette and floor-to-ceiling windows.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The attack caused damage to the engine room and resulted in a crew casualty, the maritime agency said, adding that the remaining crew were being assisted by the Omani Coast Guard.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of room
Noun
  • Prior to the Hoosier cabinet, a kitchen area would have some shelves, a separate work table and a corner cupboard.
    — John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In smaller apartment or townhouse renovations, homeowners sometimes rely on overhead cupboards instead.
    — Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026
Definition of cupboard
Verb
  • The remaining towers will house residential living, keep the main tower as a hotel, while welcoming businesses and office space.
    — Julia Avant, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Temporary federal detention facilities can house people with vastly different criminal histories and security classifications.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of house
Adjective
  • The clandestine transits have changed the game for the Middle Eastern oil industry.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • That same teen sensation left West Africa due to troubles from its dictatorship, and moved to Paris under cover of night and a clandestine air flight.
    — A.D. Amorosi, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of clandestine
Noun
  • The cabinet of curiosities has remained untouched ever since.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • President Min Aung Hlaing departed from the capital Naypyitaw on Monday morning accompanied by members of his cabinet.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of cabinet
Adjective
  • Bannerman centers on the eponymous Paul Bannerman, a lethal covert operative who convinces a group of the world’s most deadly assassins to quit the spy game for a chance to lead normal lives in the suburbs of Connecticut.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In Asia, there is no present analog to the major shocks of the 1970s, which drove Seoul and Taipei to pursue covert nuclear programs.
    — Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of covert
Noun
  • The other is lockers that can quickly be exchanged between cars, though that increases wait times.
    — Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Tatsuya Imai has a new locker mate inside the Houston Astros’ home clubhouse.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of locker

Phrases Containing closet

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closest
closet
closeted
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Cite this Entry

“Closet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closet. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on closet

Nglish: Translation of closet for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about closet

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