intimate

1 closely acquainted intimate friends who can practically finish each other's sentences Synonyms bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, friendly, inseparable, familiar, inward, near, thick, tightRelated Words clannish, close-knit, tight-knit; affable, boon, companionable, convivial, cordial, genial, gracious, hearty; gregarious, sociable, social; comfortable, cozy, easy, snug; amicable, neighborly; confidential, secretive; adoring, affectionate, dear, devoted, fond, loving, tender, tenderhearted, warmNear Antonyms aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawnAntonyms distant

2 not known or meant to be known by the general populace they broke up after she shared intimate information with all 500 of her closest friends Synonyms behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hushed, hush-hush, inside, private, nonpublic, privy, secretRelated Words classified, restricted, top secret; silent, unadvertised, unannounced, undisclosed, unmentioned, unsaid, untold; clandestine, closet, collusive, conspiratorial, covert; furtive, hugger-mugger, occult, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded; personal; closeted, concealed, hidden; repressed, silenced, stifled, suppressed; backstage, offscreen, offstageNear Antonyms well-known; advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, enunciated, heralded, proclaimed, professed, promulgated, publicized, published, reported, spotlighted; general, popular, prevailing, vulgar; current, prevalent, rife, widespread; communal, sharedAntonyms common, open, public

a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another usually quite aloof in public, he's actually quite relaxed with his intimates Synonyms alter ego, amigo, buddy, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar, friend, mate [chiefly British], musketeer, palRelated Words acquaintance; associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, partner, peer, sport; blood brother, brother, main man, sister; abettor (also abetter), accomplice, ally, collaborator, confederate; pen pal; benefactor, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher; friendlyNear Antonyms adversary, antagonist, competitor, opponent, rival; archenemy, nemesisAntonyms enemy, foe

to convey an idea indirectly trying to intimate that there was more going on than anyone knew Synonyms allude, imply, indicate, infer, insinuate, hint, suggestRelated Words advert, mention, point, refer, signal, signalize, signify; smack (of), smell (of)Near Antonyms announce, declare, proclaim; elucidate, explain, spell out; delineate, describe