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

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

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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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
Phillies closer Jhoan Duran (2-4) threw a scoreless ninth and gave up an unearned run in the 10th as Philadelphia won for the 12th time in 14 games. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 For visitors with more than a few days in Sweden, several are well worth a closer look. — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
Since 2010, hospitals have closed hundreds of maternity units as cities and towns shrink and hospitals consolidate into larger systems. — Noam Levey, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 Choose the few recurring decisions where the stakes are highest—often hiring, promotion and capital allocation—and require the four lenses to be answered before the decision closes. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Adverb
Being able to save money while still enjoying life and eating out without worrying about the bill followed close behind the top two answers. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 There’s an advantage to keeping all options open and the team keeping its cards close, but some level of transparency could help tamp down the wild speculation that is sure to follow Larkin into camp. — Max Bultman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Made after Friday's market close, this highlights how advance knowledge of such market-moving presidential statements creates significant trading advantages. — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Lawmakers resurrected the language just before the close of the legislative session this week, aiming now to present the measure to voters in the March 2028 primary election. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 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
  • Analysts warn that beyond crowded positioning and technical pullbacks, fundamental risks within the AI supply chain may also be emerging.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Gunfire erupts following victory celebration Prosecutors have alleged that an argument between two groups escalated into gunfire in the crowded celebration.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of crowded
Adjective
  • Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s to near 100 degrees, with heat index values as high as 105 degrees.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Organizations must be able to trace agent behavior across cloud and SaaS systems in near-real time, not through post-incident investigations that take days or weeks.
    — Brian Contos, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of near
Adjective
  • Burner accounts from China and Russia And those partnership ads are channeled through a narrow group of creators, ORL says.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Just like their simulated counterparts, the worms consistently moved through the narrower channels faster than the wider ones.
    — K. R. Prathyusha, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • With Diane Lane narrating from Eleanor’s journals during that time, Making Marie Antoinette transcends a behind-the-scenes special and becomes a much more intimate look into the artistry of a mother and daughter in conversation with each other.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • And given the intimate size of the hotel, expect to drink a few too many G&Ts with them once evenings swing around.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of intimate
Adjective
  • Don Henley compares the Eagles’ role there to the organist at a silent movie.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • This was nearly a full day after the latest injury there, and park officials have remained silent about what necessitated the closure.
    — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Dow stood with three tattooed and shirtless jumpers, weaving white paracord through hooks in the canvas and cinching it tight.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Given the tight timeframe before the election, Sher is seeking both temporary relief and an interim injunction in the petition to ensure eligible citizens are not disenfranchised while bureaucratic procedures are reviewed.
    — Natasha Mozgovaya, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • Taylor’s life unfolds as a grand, breathless narrative, and Heymann knows exactly how to keep the pages turning.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In its breathless finale, Curry races through the mansion reconstructing every murder, flinging himself through doors and corridors while maintaining the verbal precision of a stage actor performing at double speed.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of breathless
Adjective
  • The more accurate framing is that many of these fees are supplier-imposed and disclosed in booking terms that travelers frequently do not read in full.
    — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Maher noted that many of those candidates were heavy favorites to win but agreed that his statement was not accurate.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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