TIGHT-LIPPED Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

tight-lipped

adjective

ˈtīt-ˈlipt

Definition of tight-lipped

as in silent

tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) the cabinet official is usually tight-lipped about her private life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tight-lipped Assembly members were tight-lipped in early September about specific reforms under consideration. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026 No casting announcements have yet been made, and the team was tight-lipped on whether any members of the original cast will return. — Essie Assibu, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026 Nivola and Britton are tight-lipped, preferring to let viewers find out for themselves. — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 Ternus is tight-lipped about how his approach to government affairs might differ from Cook’s. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tight-lipped

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tight-lipped

Adjective

On the whole, the average person generally prefers CEOs to stay silent on divisive political issues, the study found.

— Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Proponents tout thousands of short-term construction jobs while remaining completely silent on long-term traffic, property value, and localized economic and environmental impact studies.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of silent

Adjective

Texas Football season ticket holders will not have access to their reserved seats for the show, and there aren’t any presales through Texas Athletics.

— Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026
Santaland will be located on the eighth floor, featuring Santa photos, festive treats and surprises with select dates open to the public and others for reserved appointments.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of reserved

Adjective

Then the reviews, of course, completely dismissed me as being like some old dumb blonde thing.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026
Basically all that's left for the dumb human to do when using the all-new Arrowmax Arrowspace S1 electric smart driver is dropping the bit in the tip and holding the driver steady – the S1 takes care of everything else.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of dumb

Adjective

His answer was a restrained yet expressive material palette, anchored by rich walnut millwork and reflective surfaces that tie the rooms together.

— Nicole Gates Anderson, Architectural Digest, 28 Oct. 2026
Dishes quickly crowded the table, each showing the restrained elegance of that region’s cuisine.

— Christopher Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of restrained

Browse Nearby Words

tight-knit

tight-lipped

tight-mouthed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tight-lipped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tight-lipped. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tight-lipped

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cockamamie

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes