close 1 of 5

adjective

ˈklōs How to pronounce close (audio)
Definition of closenext
1
as in crowded
having little space between items or parts the soldiers marched in close formation against the enemy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in near
not being distant in time, space, or significance my birthday is close to Christmas a shopping mall that is very close to the highway these words are close synonyms

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3
as in narrow
showing little difference in the standing of the competitors the election results were so close that the votes had to be recounted

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4
as in intimate
closely acquainted a small wedding ceremony that was limited to close friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge she was as close as a stone when it came to talking about her love life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in cheap
giving or sharing as little as possible the kind of folks who are very close when charity calls

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7
as in breathless
lacking fresh air a small room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere

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8
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy a close analysis of the box-office performance of action movies

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close

2 of 5

verb

ˈklōz How to pronounce close (audio)
1
as in to shut
to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening be sure to close the gate when you leave

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2
as in to close (down)
to stop the operations of the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve

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3
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point we'll close the assembly with the singing of our national anthem

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4
as in to stop
to come to an end the services closed with a short prayer

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5
as in to come
to come near or nearer the two groups closed with each other from opposite sides of the field

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close

3 of 5

adverb

ˈklōs How to pronounce close (audio)
as in in
at, within, or to a short distance or time the stranded passengers drew close for reassurance

Synonyms & Similar Words

close

4 of 5

noun (1)

ˈklōs How to pronounce close (audio)
as in courtyard
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) a garden in a close at the center of the complex

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close

5 of 5

noun (2)

ˈklōz How to pronounce close (audio)
1
as in ending
the stopping of a process or activity at the close of the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conclusion
the last part of a process or action managed to conduct the negotiations to a satisfactory close

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective close contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of close are miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, and stingy. While all these words mean "being unwilling or showing unwillingness to share with others," close suggests keeping a tight grip on one's money and possessions.

folks who are very close when charity calls

When can miserly be used instead of close?

The synonyms miserly and close are sometimes interchangeable, but miserly suggests a sordid avariciousness and a morbid pleasure in hoarding.

a miserly couple devoid of social conscience

Where would niggardly be a reasonable alternative to close?

Although the words niggardly and close have much in common, niggardly implies giving or spending the very smallest amount possible.

the niggardly amount budgeted for the town library

In what contexts can parsimonious take the place of close?

While in some cases nearly identical to close, parsimonious suggests a frugality so extreme as to lead to stinginess.

a parsimonious lifestyle notably lacking in luxuries

When is it sensible to use penurious instead of close?

The meanings of penurious and close largely overlap; however, penurious implies niggardliness that gives an appearance of actual poverty.

the penurious eccentric bequeathed a fortune

When could stingy be used to replace close?

In some situations, the words stingy and close are roughly equivalent. However, stingy implies a marked lack of generosity.

a stingy child, not given to sharing

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 close
Adjective
Truong compares the platform to a geostationary satellite that is 1,800 times closer and much cheaper, though the company hasn't offered figures to check that. — New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026 Eating with a close partner may influence the body in a surprising way, new research suggests. — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
Regulatory concerns began to rise, with growing uncertainty that Netflix would be able to close its deal in short order. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 Hundreds of schools have been forced to close and more than 5,000 people have been taken into police custody, most of them minors with no previous criminal records. — Melissa Bell, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Adverb
With the deal close, Zaslav is expected to depart — with a boatload of money. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026 The closer a shopper gets to making a purchase, the wider the gap becomes. — Dax Dasilva, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
The price target for Amazon is $375, implying more than 50% upside from Thursday’s close. — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 While Ellison won’t get the keys to WBD until next week’s formal close, dealmaking activity is surging. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for close
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close
  1. crowded
  2. near
  3. narrow
  4. intimate
  5. silent
  6. tight
  7. breathless
  8. accurate
Adjective
  • The service is intended to provide a more streamlined travel experience, including access to private terminals rather than crowded commercial airport facilities.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Cal chooses to lure Aron to Kate’s, chooses to present Aron to his mother in the middle of the crowded brothel, chooses to hurt both of them in this moment.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of crowded
Adjective
  • If Waldron’s future role at Goldman Sachs appears to be a near certainty, that’s not the case for the rest of the bank’s C-suite, especially if several top executives depart after being passed over.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Kushner was a key architect of the Gaza ceasefire brokered between Israel and Hamas last October; despite that deal, Israel continues striking the enclave on a near daily basis.
    — Allegra Goodwin, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of near
Adjective
  • But do such experiences meet the narrow definition of attachment?
    — Pascal Vrticka, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2026
  • When the pollsters gave likely voters additional, critical information about both candidates, Bass shot up by 5 points and took a narrow lead over Raman, 40% to 39%, with 21% undecided, according to FM3.
    — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • The brand held its fall 2024 show in Saint Moritz — one of executive chairman Remo Ruffini’s favorite ski resorts but which can hardly be characterized as intimate.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
  • For the less adventurous, a quick cruise to neighboring islands, some of which get washed away by high tide, is a must-do for intimate picnics, shelling, or special soirees.
    — Joey Skladany, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of intimate
Adjective
  • But like many people who often turn to humor in uncomfortable situations, Iain attempted to make a few jokes, while Holly Revord remained totally silent.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In the last stretch of Slam Frank, the show turns serious, as Anne’s silent sister Margot starts talking.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Every dollar poured in weaves the technology’s success and the US economy tighter and tighter together.
    — Yerbol Orynbayev, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Similar tensions are emerging in South Korea, with growing opposition to data centers near residential areas and proposals for tighter local restrictions, even as the national government pushes to accelerate development.
    — April Roach,Jenny Lee, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • That suggests that the filmmaker and performer is not on the general public’s radar in as big a way as the breathless media coverage suggests.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Rodriguez was still breathless during the post dance interviews.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of breathless
Adjective
  • An in-home assessment can help identify which windows require replacement and provide more accurate project pricing.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Athletic directors and coaches have been scrambling to make sure players are eligible and parental paperwork is accurate.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of accurate

Phrases Containing close

Browse Nearby Words

clops
close
close call
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Cite this Entry

“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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