closeted 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of closetednext
as in hidden

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Dissimilar Words

closeted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of closet
as in housed
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers he closeted himself in his study, vowing not to emerge until he had finished the term paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 closeted
Adjective
On the show, Barone plays Grace, the perfectionist older sister of Benny’s closeted freshman, trapped in a relationship with a noxious fail-bro played by Adam DiMarco. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 27 July 2026 His father was a closeted gay man who came out very late in life, then passed away at the age of 80. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2026
Verb
Hired as a Skyline security guard, Aaron is promoted to fixer, keeping himself and Skyline’s A-listers closeted by any means necessary. — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 In the pilot, Keith was in his blue policeman’s uniform attending David’s father’s memorial service without permission from David, who was deeply closeted. — Literary Hub, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for closeted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closeted
  1. hidden
  2. housed
  3. repressed
  4. confined
  5. personal
  6. encased
  7. concealed
  8. surrounded
Adjective
  • The Sun quincunxes Pluto, highlighting where careful effort meets control issues, hidden pressure, or shifting priorities.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Clarke pursued authenticity ingeniously, using tiny, hidden radio microphones that transmitted to tape recorder from afar, in order to capture dialogue with maximal spontaneity.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of hidden
Verb
  • The Foscarini Signature Suite (which housed the Doge) is approximately 966 square feet and also offers Grand Canal views.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Off-grid residents blur the line between housed and homeless, as county officials juggle lax enforcement, environmental damage, real estate scams and calls to legalize basic services such as addresses and trash pickup.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of housed
Adjective
  • The 1996 drama saw Watson play Bess McNeill, a young woman living in a repressed, deeply religious community in the north of Scotland.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Sigmund Freud wrote that dreams were a kind of acting-out of repressed impulses.
    — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of repressed
Verb
  • If she’s found not guilty, she may be released or remain confined in a mental health facility.
    — Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The impulse to single out Islamic practices for special legal scrutiny isn’t confined to arbitration.
    — Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of confined
Adjective
  • Instead, detectives say the group used falsified invoices and documents and transferred cash into personal bank accounts.
    — Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • For an undergraduate student living off campus, Detroit Mercy estimates $3,220 for transportation and $10,830 for personal and miscellaneous expenses.
    — Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of personal
Verb
  • But Oliver said the contractors installed the grinder pump a month ago with its own power source encased in a locked box and didn’t provide her with a key.
    — Christin Lazerus, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • With six bedrooms and six full bathrooms spread across more than 9,000 square feet, the home’s three distinct structures are connected by bridges and wrapped in curved glass encased in black steel frames.
    — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of encased
Adjective
  • Retractable or concealed handles now appear on cars from American, European, Korean and Chinese manufacturers.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • In another instance, investigators identified a gray button on a test-taker's shirt as a concealed camera.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Definition of concealed
Verb
  • The symbolic funeral pyres were surrounded by offerings to Hindu deities as relatives gathered to perform the final rites.
    — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The novel’s little Scottish village, surrounded by forest, feels claustrophobic, isolated, steeped in dread.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of surrounded

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Cite this Entry

“Closeted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closeted. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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