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
And how would the actual Fielder, working in tight-lipped secrecy with a team that includes writers Carrie Kemper, Eric Notarnicola and Adam Locke-Norton, advance a master narrative that had already reached such a satisfying conclusion?
—
Alison Herman, Variety, 15 Apr. 2025
Bridges was tight-lipped and didn’t go into much detail when asked for the ingredients to his secret sauce.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025
The White House and Department of Justice (DOJ), which oversees the ATF, have been tight-lipped about what prompted the administrative shuffle.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 10 Apr. 2025
Zelensky had been tight-lipped about the operation, only indirectly referring to it.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tight-lipped
Alison Herman, Variety, 15 Apr. 2025
Bridges was tight-lipped and didn’t go into much detail when asked for the ingredients to his secret sauce.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025
The White House and Department of Justice (DOJ), which oversees the ATF, have been tight-lipped about what prompted the administrative shuffle.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 10 Apr. 2025
Zelensky had been tight-lipped about the operation, only indirectly referring to it.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tight-lipped
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tight-lipped
Adjective
-
But that learning curve can be steep, isolating and — too often — silent.—
Yolanda Wiggins,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Even more telling, there was virtually no difference in data consumption, battery use, and background activity between the audio room tests and the silent room tests.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Still, the same words are used to describe him: quiet, reserved, introverted.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
The ultra-private first lady's public wardrobe ranges from more muted looks, that match her reserved personality, to punchy statement pieces that better fit her husband's Truth Social feed.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Its packaging is understated and classic—an elegant glass bottle with restrained branding, reflecting the confidence of a product that doesn't need to shout to be noticed.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The restrained horror of Shoojit Sircar’s Sardar Udham, which had an extended, shiver-inducing sequence set in Jallianwala Bagh, has no place here.—
Anupama Chopra,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Tight-lipped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tight-lipped. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share