as in hidden
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as in housed
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of closeted
Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 26 Dec. 2025
Harge Aird in Carol (2015) God forbid two closeted lesbians have a little fun (okay, emotionally tortured and clandestine fun, but still) without some man coming along to ruin it!
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 25 Dec. 2025
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Or perhaps the speaker could recognize that a cousin at the table may be closeted, and take it upon themselves to model how to push back against transphobia.
—Lee Bebout, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for closeted
Adjective
Arnaud plays Scott Hunter, a veteran professional player, who much like the fresh faced rookies, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) at the center of the show, bears the weight of being a closeted professional hockey player.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 26 Dec. 2025
Harge Aird in Carol (2015) God forbid two closeted lesbians have a little fun (okay, emotionally tortured and clandestine fun, but still) without some man coming along to ruin it!
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
Dale, who was closeted at the time of his death, leaves behind notes stashed inside his treasured first-edition books hinting that his wife (Jeanne Tripplehorn) may have had something to do with his ostensible suicide.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Or perhaps the speaker could recognize that a cousin at the table may be closeted, and take it upon themselves to model how to push back against transphobia.
—Lee Bebout, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for closeted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closeted
Adjective
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Exploring by boat or paddleboard is also a great way to find hidden areas that feel like your own private beach.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
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More than once, Coon and Smallwood are completely nude on stage, as Agnes and Peter lay hidden parts of their psyche bare.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then later, a week after the testing was done, state inspectors discovered that about a dozen residents who had been exposed to COVID-19 were being housed in the same rooms as a slew of residents who hadn’t.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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The new eatery is located in a historic building that formerly housed Eric's Porter-Haus steakhouse.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The more involved Jana becomes, the more she is forced to confront her past and her repressed memories.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
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To me, Betsy is a repressed housewife who is trying to make it as a musician.—
Brett Milano,
Boston Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Impressive, but safely confined to prototypes and concept demos.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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For best results, install traps along walls, under appliances, and in other dark corners where mice are active and check the traps daily so mice don’t stay confined for long.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Investigators also found that Cowles linked his company card to his personal PayPal account and transferred funds to third parties.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Use moodier colors and personal details to create a cozy, lived-in feel.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Cam Newton Experience this weekend won’t just be encased in a stadium.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
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This means that heavy elements like rock and metal are dissolved and encased in a thick mantle of metallic hydrogen enveloped in a massive atmospheric cloak of multi-colored clouds of ammonium hydrosulphide.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Watch it for its skin-deep enticement, its powerful visual devices, but also its concealed malignancy.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Michael was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 4th, surrounded by his entire family in Los Angeles, California.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
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Centered around an azure alpine lake and surrounded by a network of more than 460 trails, Wanaka is a haven for kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, and skiing.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Closeted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closeted. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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