as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
a buttoned-up colleague who had no interest in talking about anything but work, even at parties
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buttoned-up
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Aidala is folksy, while Agnifilo is more buttoned-up.
—
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
There's ample space across two floors—the taproom downstairs is looser, the parlor upstairs a bit more buttoned-up and spirits-oriented.
—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Raquel Welch brought her signature va-va-voom and fashion-forward style to the Oscars, with low necklines, high slits, and daring silhouettes, during a time when the ceremony dress code was much more (literally) buttoned-up.
—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
The new offering, however, seems more buttoned-up.
—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
Amazon has plenty of excellent work dresses that feel buttoned-up without being boring—and that are suitable for a range of office environments.
—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
20 Jan. 2026
The fun retro glasses seemed to rebel against gear that was getting as buttoned-up as the world, which has felt a bit heavier and more serious in the last five to ten years.
—
Lily Ritter,
Outside,
14 Jan. 2026
Cowley was more buttoned-up and shrewd about getting on in the world.
—
Vince Passaro,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Angela Rayner Starmer is often criticized for being buttoned-up and lawyerly.
—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Aidala is folksy, while Agnifilo is more buttoned-up.
—
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
There's ample space across two floors—the taproom downstairs is looser, the parlor upstairs a bit more buttoned-up and spirits-oriented.
—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Raquel Welch brought her signature va-va-voom and fashion-forward style to the Oscars, with low necklines, high slits, and daring silhouettes, during a time when the ceremony dress code was much more (literally) buttoned-up.
—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
The new offering, however, seems more buttoned-up.
—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
Amazon has plenty of excellent work dresses that feel buttoned-up without being boring—and that are suitable for a range of office environments.
—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
20 Jan. 2026
The fun retro glasses seemed to rebel against gear that was getting as buttoned-up as the world, which has felt a bit heavier and more serious in the last five to ten years.
—
Lily Ritter,
Outside,
14 Jan. 2026
Cowley was more buttoned-up and shrewd about getting on in the world.
—
Vince Passaro,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttoned-up
Adjective
-
Or a pig’s leg lying off to the side, detached and jittering, could resemble Ted’s leg.
-
They got approved for a mortgage on a £150,000 (about $198,441) two-bedroom, semi-detached house in Seaham, England.
Adjective
-
As the Coast Starlight approaches the Bay Area, the train glides past marshlands, open water, and distant city skylines before continuing toward California’s Central Coast.
-
They were received by distant unknown relatives and made their way to Kensington, Illinois, a railroad community on Chicago’s South Side, historically tied to Calumet Junction and the industrial economy that helped shape the region.
Adjective
-
Next to him, the waters of Lincoln’s Sinking Spring still ran cold.
-
If time doesn’t allow for spa treatments, a morning swim in the indoor pool accompanied by a sauna and cold plunge in one of their two thermal suites might suffice.
Adjective
-
The fabric feels cool against my skin and never sticks or clings, even on warmer nights.
-
Of course, when training in heat and humidity, staying hydrated is critical as well as attempts to stay as cool as possible when training during hot temperatures.
Adjective
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Serena’s name was on everyone’s lips, with fans chatting about the American’s chances and journalists jostling for position to get their hands on a reserved media seat.
-
The canopy area featured reserved seating that was blocked off with more seats for fans to sit and watch the game in the shade.
Cite this Entry
“Buttoned-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttoned-up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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