closemouthed

Examples

• All

• "Even if he wants to kill me, he won't do it until he knows where you are." "The bartender will tell him." "Not unless he tells the bartender who he's looking for and why... and killers tend to be pretty closemouthed, especially when there's a reward for their victims."

  Fiction book (1991)

• Now, a reliable professional killer is a closemouthed man.

  Shoot Out (1971)

• No wonder he'd been so closemouthed about his plans.

  Fiction book (1990)

• She rewarded her by being less closemouthed than usual.

  Fiction book (1992)

• "The bartender isn't exactly closemouthed.

  Fiction book (1991)

• He has always been a closemouthed person, sharing little about his personal life.

• The detective was closemouthed during the investigation, revealing no details to the press.

Synonyms

C

close

vsclosemouthed

173 7.0

Not willing to tell others about something

is more about silence rather than restrictiveness or stinginess

S

secretive

vsclosemouthed

75 4.9

A person who does not tell others about their plans or feelings

is quieter but not necessarily hiding things on purpose

G

guarded

vsclosemouthed

30 4.9

Careful about showing feelings or strong opinions to avoid saying too much

is more about silence and hiding information rather than controlled caution

H

hush-hush

vsclosemouthed

• Informal

26 7.5

People keep it secret from most others to avoid being noticed

is about a person's reluctance to speak, not just secret status of things

E

evasive

vsclosemouthed

18 7.3

Not giving a direct answer to hide the truth or avoid commitment

is more about quiet reluctance than deliberately dodging replies

T

tight-lipped

vsclosemouthed

17 5.7

Not willing to speak or give information

is more mildly reluctant and not always firmly refusing information

R

reticent

vsclosemouthed

16 7.9

Not willing to talk about thoughts or feelings easily

focuses more on silence about feelings than on hiding facts

C

cagey

vsclosemouthed

14 7.5

Careful not to give away information or show their plans

is less strategic and more simply reluctant to answer or speak

U

uncommunicative

vsclosemouthed

4 6.3

Not willing to talk or give information

is more about hiding information than general social quietness

M

mealy-mouthed

vsclosemouthed

• Offensive

4 8.9

Not willing to speak clearly and directly, often sounding insincere

is more about unwillingness to speak or give information, not just timidity

T

tightlipped

vsclosemouthed

2 7.1

Not willing to talk or answer questions

is generally reluctant but may not refuse information outright

C

cagy

vsclosemouthed

1 7.8

Very careful about what they say and show to avoid trouble or gain advantage

is more broadly quiet rather than deliberately hiding for advantage

N

noncommunicative

vsclosemouthed

1 8.1

Not willing or able to give information

is driven by secrecy and reluctance rather than inability to communicate

M

mealymouthed

vsclosemouthed

• Offensive

1 9.9

Not willing to say what you think clearly to avoid upsetting others

is focused on silence and hiding information rather than polite indirectness

U

untalkative

vsclosemouthed

1 6.2

Not talking much and often listening to others

is about secrecy and reluctance to give information, not only quietness

I

incommunicative

vsclosemouthed

1 7.6

Unwilling to talk or answer questions

is more about keeping secrets rather than simply quiet behavior

C

closelipped

vsclosemouthed

1 8.3

Not willing to tell people private things

is more about general reluctance rather than deliberate secrecy

Antonyms

O

outspoken

80 4.2

To speak freely and directly about opinions or feelings

T

talkative

33 2.5

A person who likes to speak a lot with other people

How Secretive

secretive

75 4.9

closemouthed

1 7.5

reticent

16 7.9

reserved

29 3.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology