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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

closet

3 of 3

adjective

as in clandestine

Related Words

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
Try hooks, dividers, or double-hang rods to increase closet organization. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 16 July 2026 Loafers are one of the most versatile year-round staples every closet should have, and the Coach Sculpted C Leather Drivers are the perfect pair to add to your rotation. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026
Verb
Hired as a Skyline security guard, Aaron is promoted to fixer, keeping himself and Skyline’s A-listers closeted by any means necessary. — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 In the pilot, Keith was in his blue policeman’s uniform attending David’s father’s memorial service without permission from David, who was deeply closeted. — Literary Hub, 19 May 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
  • Designed to last years in the pantry, it’s earned a permanent place in kitchens across the world.
    — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 July 2026
  • Therefore, onions should be stored in a cool, dark space (like a pantry or cellar with temperatures between 45°F and 55°F) to prevent sprouting.
    — Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of pantry
Noun
  • That gives construction crews room to work while preparing the campus for future growth.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Those rooms are tricky and repeatedly trip up the players who are actually trying to win.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Definition of room
Noun
  • The hotel's team can also do a grocery run and stock the cupboards and fridge ahead of your stay.
    — Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2026
  • The small kitchen retains its midcentury charm, but open shelving above the counter provides an airier, more contemporary cupboard to show off Miranda-Martin’s dish and glassware collection.
    — Marissa Gluck, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of cupboard
Verb
  • An inmate housed in the medical unit at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center near Elk Grove died early Tuesday after deputies found the person unresponsive in a cell, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • The bespoke trunk, and the coveted trophy housed inside, will make their way to the pitch for the first time at the final game of the competition, which takes place next Sunday in New Jersey.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 14 July 2026
Definition of house
Adjective
  • Attorney Cynthia Jennings, who spoke at a press conference called several days after the police were at the treasurer’s office, had condemned social media speculation about Sierra’s action and the claims of clandestine shredding of documents.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026
  • That the actual, original Antifa formed in clandestine resistance to Nazi terror during the early 1930s appears lost amid the rhetorical vagaries of political propaganda.
    — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of clandestine
Noun
  • In Trinidad and Tobago, meetings have been schedule with telecommunication regulators, the ministers in the economic cabinet to talk about upcoming public tenders and the officials in charge of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • Across from there is the formal living room, with a fireplace on the east wall and built-in bookshelves and cabinets on the west.
    — Brian Bell, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Definition of cabinet
Adjective
  • These functions can be critical in various applications and scenarios, such as inspections, covert surveillance, search-and-rescue operations, disaster monitoring, and agricultural pest tracking.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
  • Although, with words like emergency and bunker—the skeptics have made routine election work seem like a covert-ops thriller.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Definition of covert
Noun
  • The project proposal also includes a gym with cardio and strength machinery and space for group classes, an indoor mailroom with digital package lockers and several water features.
    — Ilana Arougheti July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • Even Fitz-Gerald’s locker is a callback to his mom’s doctrines.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 10 July 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 18 Jul. 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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