closeted 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of closetednext
as in hidden

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

closeted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of closet
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

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
The titular gang comprises Mac (McElhenney), a closeted wannabe tough guy; the narcissistic prepster Dennis (Glenn Howerton); Dennis’s chronically unsure fraternal twin, Dee (Kaitlin Olson); and the bar’s buffoonish janitor, Charlie (Charlie Day). — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 An erotic thriller that captures the dying charm of Thailand’s stand-alone cinemas which also serve as cruising sites for closeted gay men. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
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 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 See All Example Sentences for closeted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closeted
  1. hidden
  2. housed
  3. repressed
  4. confined
  5. personal
  6. encased
  7. concealed
  8. surrounded
Adjective
  • Eight venues are interconnected by hidden passageways, secret entrances, and whimsical performances.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The crust of the tangible world peels away, and hidden spiritual and moral realities become prominent and unmistakable.
    — Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of hidden
Verb
  • Related Stories Set in the Iranian village of Goorankesh, housed in an incredibly arid and seemingly inhospitable region, the film follows schoolteacher Davoud Soulan (Mohammad Rahimi), whose job lies on precarious foundations.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • But the building hasn’t housed anyone since early 2025, when SHO moved everyone out due to deteriorating building conditions.
    — Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of housed
Adjective
  • Oakley’s spin isn’t one of those gossamer period love stories about repressed emotions — those are there, yes, but the Dashwoods are actively pressing against their station at all times.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Droog takes time to savor his accomplishments while also dealing with years of repressed emotions.
    — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of repressed
Verb
  • Burke’s call to bar judges from allowing those accused of the worst violent crimes to be confined at home with their whereabouts tracked using electronic monitors.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Winds are expected to be strongest on the east side of the storm, meaning that winds gusting above 40 mph will be mostly confined to rugged terrain and the Mojave Desert.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of confined
Adjective
  • One is that with the noise in the tank, the crew will have to use the sort of personal helmet microphones as used by helicopter pilots.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • More broadly, the season moved away from formulaic dressing toward a more individual, instinctive approach to style, where contrasting references and personal expression take precedence over a single aesthetic.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of personal
Verb
  • Artistic details abound, such as the bespoke Córdoban leather headboards topping the oversized beds encased in exquisite linen.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The pointed-toe pumps feature a square crystal buckle encased in a gunmetal frame.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of encased
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
Definition of concealed
Verb
  • At this season of my life, to be so warmly received by audiences and surrounded by so much love is a gift beyond words.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Things got uglier when Greenlaw was surrounded by Seahawks players, Jones stepped up to him despite not wearing his helmet, and then Greenlaw headbutted Jones.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of surrounded

Browse Nearby Words

closet
closeted
closeting
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Closeted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closeted. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All