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close-knit

close-knit

22 3.9
A group of people with strong caring ties who support each other
  • adjective
  • /kloʊs nɪt/
translation icon : unido
  • Ben, as you well know, we're a very close-knit community here at Penrith College.
  • close-knit communities
  • close-knit group
  • close-knit family

In fact, I would say they were happy, close knit, They like spending time together.

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Examples

Synonyms

tight-knit
vsclose-knit
16 3.6

People in a group who know each other well and help each other

is specifically about emotional and social relationships within the group
tightly knit
vsclose-knit
3 3.7

A group whose members are close and support each other

emphasizes emotional and social bonds rather than organizational ties
closely knit
vsclose-knit
1 3.7

A group of people who help and support each other

focuses on emotional and social connections not mainly cultural ones

Antonyms

61 4.9

Not friendly or warm, behaving in a quiet, cold way

How Close

tight-knit
16 3.6
close-knit
22 3.9
loosely knit
1 5.5
distant
61 4.9

Surface Forms

close-knit positive

Morphology

close-knit = close + knit (transparent) = close + knit

Meaning is a straightforward hyphenated compound: 'close' (intimate) + 'knit' (bound together) = tightly bonded group; the metaphorical use is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word close-knit comes from two simple words, close and knit. close means 'near' or 'tight' and knit is what you do with yarn to 'join' threads. So, close-knit describes a group of people who are held together like the tight stitches of a sweater.