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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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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

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The back end of the bullpen settled into a rhythm with Tanner Scott serving as the setup man and Edwin Díaz reestablishing himself as the closer. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 About an hour before the San Diego Padres faced the Milwaukee Brewers with their season on the line, All-Star closer Mason Miller went on the paternity list to attend the birth of his child. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 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
The Dolphins have been keeping games close, and that should be expected again against a 2-2 Bengals team. — Keven Lerner, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 As a result, the Porters had fun taking another step closer toward the conference championship. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
LeVota’s pitch comes as his term as interim county executive is coming to a close. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026 So don’t be shy about stocking up at Amazon, especially as the Prime Day deals come to a close. — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 7 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 stigma of a young girl queuing for condoms, pills or a birth control implant at a crowded local clinic where other patients, or even health workers, could judge her or tell her parents, kept Nhedega away.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Festival favorites Musk, Misty Green and Fjord debut in limited release in a crowded indie market with awards season rolling along.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of crowded
Adjective
  • The series, which comprises eight 45-minute episodes, is set in the near future, at a time when humanity’s survival rests on a new generation of elite pilots.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • To get gear in, FORM staffers typically meet the artist’s semis at the nearest major road juncture and load equipment into box trucks.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of near
Adjective
  • Despite steady attacks from Iran, oil tankers and other commercial vessels have continued flowing through the narrow waterway.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Acton holds a narrow edge over Republican firebrand Vivek Ramaswamy, while Kaptur is contending with a tough reelection battle after Ohio Republicans redrew the boundaries of the longtime congresswoman’s district to pull in more GOP voters.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Their directorial feature debut provides an intimate look behind the scenes of a film set of legendary British director and gay rights activist Derek Jarman, including such famous names as Tilda Swinton and costume designer Sandy Powell.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Although the restaurant downstairs might be the main attraction, those looking for an intimate, lavish escape are hard-pressed to find anything more decadent than The Witchery's nine suites.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 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
  • Lee said that under tight budgets and schedules, those scenes would normally have had to be dropped.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But Cook also warned on that call that tight supply would weigh on iPhone, Mac, and iPad sales in the months ahead.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • The vision of a utopian domestic future took a strange turn during the Cold War, marrying the breathless excitement of the space age with the existential dread of nuclear annihilation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of breathless
Adjective
  • Moreover, the company says automatic workout recognition is twice as accurate as before, with 50% fewer missed activities.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Google says the new model means auto activity tracking is twice as accurate and supports over 100 activities.
    — Victoria Song, The Verge, 12 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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