closeted 1 of 2

Definition of closetednext

closeted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of closet

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 closeted
Adjective
On the show, Barone plays Grace, the perfectionist older sister of Benny’s closeted freshman, trapped in a relationship with a noxious fail-bro played by Adam DiMarco. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 27 July 2026 His father was a closeted gay man who came out very late in life, then passed away at the age of 80. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2026
Verb
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 The steamy romance Heated Rivalry saw two gay men spend nearly a decade trying to define their relationship; although being closeted played a major role in their hesitation, the show also mined tension from the characters’ doubts about having an exclusive partnership. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for closeted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closeted
Adjective
  • The Sun quincunxes Pluto, highlighting where careful effort meets control issues, hidden pressure, or shifting priorities.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Clarke pursued authenticity ingeniously, using tiny, hidden radio microphones that transmitted to tape recorder from afar, in order to capture dialogue with maximal spontaneity.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Foscarini Signature Suite (which housed the Doge) is approximately 966 square feet and also offers Grand Canal views.
    Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Off-grid residents blur the line between housed and homeless, as county officials juggle lax enforcement, environmental damage, real estate scams and calls to legalize basic services such as addresses and trash pickup.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The 1996 drama saw Watson play Bess McNeill, a young woman living in a repressed, deeply religious community in the north of Scotland.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Sigmund Freud wrote that dreams were a kind of acting-out of repressed impulses.
    Veronique Greenwood, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Authorities confined the fire to the third-floor nursery, but the tragedy exposed questions over fire alarms, equipment and evacuation routes in Pakistan’s overstretched public hospitals.
    Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike the widespread good fortune of Monday’s major money Florida Lottery drawings, Tuesday’s Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play and Fantasy 5 luck was confined to one player at one RaceTrac station.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead, detectives say the group used falsified invoices and documents and transferred cash into personal bank accounts.
    Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • For an undergraduate student living off campus, Detroit Mercy estimates $3,220 for transportation and $10,830 for personal and miscellaneous expenses.
    Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But Oliver said the contractors installed the grinder pump a month ago with its own power source encased in a locked box and didn’t provide her with a key.
    Christin Lazerus, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • With six bedrooms and six full bathrooms spread across more than 9,000 square feet, the home’s three distinct structures are connected by bridges and wrapped in curved glass encased in black steel frames.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Retractable or concealed handles now appear on cars from American, European, Korean and Chinese manufacturers.
    Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • In another instance, investigators identified a gray button on a test-taker's shirt as a concealed camera.
    Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Will Hichem stay clean, on the right track when he’s surrounded by people involved in illicit deal-making?
    Annika Pham, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Closeted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closeted. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!