shut 1 of 2

verb

ˈshət How to pronounce shut (audio)
Definition of shutnext
1
as in to close
to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening please shut the door when you leave

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to close (down)
to stop the operations of shut both stores for a week

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shut

2 of 2

adjective

as in blocked

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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 shut
Verb
Hundreds of schools have shut their doors in recent days, with students airing grievances over run-down buildings, overcrowded classrooms, understaffing and inequalities in the education system. — Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026 Human employees would fill new containers with fish, peanut butter, honey, and dog biscuits, snap the locks shut, and deliver them to their ursine colleagues for compliance testing. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The couple's home has holes in walls and a door that won't stay shut. — Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 10 June 2026 The international airport in General Santos remained shut for a second day, forcing the cancellation of 63 domestic flights except for those on humanitarian missions. — Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shut
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shut
  1. close
  2. stopped
  3. lock
  4. closed
  5. plugged
  6. clogged
  7. obstructed
Verb
  • The path to closing the merger was often a rocky one and at times seemed likely to derail.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Ritual Lobby Bar closes the night with Art Deco sconces and plush couches.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of close
Adjective
  • The girl with a backpack on could be seen crossing the street while looking at her phone before the stopped truck began moving beside her, in videos obtained by ABC station WPVI and CBS station KYW.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The crash drew a crowd from the stopped traffic, who quickly spread photos and videos of the driver on social media.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of stopped
Verb
  • Many of Guadagnino’s collaborators have long-standing relationships with him, which allows for everyone to lock in and go.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The answer cannot be to lock knowledge behind walls and hope increasingly capable machines never cross them.
    — Shlomit Wagman, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of lock
Adjective
  • Tinubu’s aides have long presented the 1993 case as a closed civil matter.
    — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Mainland China market remained closed for the Golden Week holiday on Wednesday.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of closed
Adjective
  • He is very plugged into the world of change-makers in the incarceration realm.
    — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2025
  • But the new generation of GaN chargers with more power and USB ports sometimes struggle to stay plugged in due to their size and weight.
    — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 7 Aug. 2024
Definition of plugged
Adjective
  • Small bumps can also be blemishes caused by clogged or inflamed pores, particularly on acne-prone areas like the chest and back.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Avoid applying too close to the hairline or along the forehead to prevent clogged pores and irritating acne-prone skin.
    — Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of clogged
Adjective
  • Following the complaints about obstructed views, Bills team executives told the media that many of those seats are being sold for events like concerts, not games.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The obstructed view and small video boards are by far the biggest complaints, and here is a small bit of what was being said.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of obstructed

Phrases Containing shut

Browse Nearby Words

shushing
shut
shutdown
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Cite this Entry

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

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