CLOSE Synonyms: 566 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

close 1 of 5

adjective

ˈklōs

Definition of close

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

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

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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as in intimate

closely acquainted a small wedding ceremony that was limited to close friends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in breathless

lacking fresh air a small room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere

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as in accurate

meeting the highest standard of accuracy a close analysis of the box-office performance of action movies

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2 of 5

verb

ˈklōz

as in to shut

to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening be sure to close the gate when you leave

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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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as in to stop

to come to an end the services closed with a short prayer

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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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3 of 5

adverb

ˈklōs

as in in

at, within, or to a short distance or time the stranded passengers drew close for reassurance

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4 of 5

noun (1)

ˈklōs

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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5 of 5

noun (2)

ˈklōz

as in ending

the stopping of a process or activity at the close of the evening

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

The Horizon 20 Max and JMGO N3 Ultimate come in a close second to the first two models in terms of image quality. — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026 Last week was their first close game, a road game against a bad Colorado team. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Verb

The hotel was already on its second life after closing about 10 years prior. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Obviously, Tropicana Field is indoors, while American Family Field has a roof that can be opened and closed. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Adverb

BravoCon began in New York City in 2020, letting fans get up close and personal with their favorite Bravolebrities. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2026 Harpo took one look at the wet on your thighs and pulled you close, guided you over her doorstep. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026

Noun

After two days of on-and-off showers that Central California has not seen months, the rain is coming to a close as of Friday morning. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Long before theme parks dominated Orlando, visitors came to the region to admire sprawling citrus groves, wander botanical gardens, and get an up-close look at Florida’s most famous reptiles. — Amber Love Bond, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for close

Recent Examples of Synonyms for close

Adjective

With Election Day approaching, California voters are facing a crowded ballot and competing claims about what the state's propositions would do.

— James Taylor, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
The International Monetary Fund warned this month that growing leverage, crowded positions and correlated selling from hedge funds could create potential stability risks.

— Hugh Son, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of crowded

Adjective

The band frequently steers the poppy songwriting offroad by leaning into distortion and ambience, creating moments of both near-mania and hazy unease.

— Sue Park, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
On a near-weekly basis, Landsat 9 delivers observations of everything from deforestation to water quality and crop growth.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of near

Adjective

Those qualities are attractive, but concentrating exclusively on them directs many investors toward the same narrow set of service companies.

— Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026
The winning architecture is a stack of narrow intelligences pointed at what each one is good at, coordinated through a harness that knows which one to use when.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

Reservations for the intimate South End space are available online.

— Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
Designed by Peter Niemitz Design with an architectural assist from Spina O’Rourke + Partners, the restaurant has a more intimate dining room with banquette seating, a sushi bar and a cocktail bar.

— Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of intimate

Adjective

William has largely remained silent about the brothers' estrangement and has not publicly expressed a desire to repair their relationship.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Weigand spends much of his time on house calls, reviving cherished heirlooms that have long fallen silent.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of silent

Adjective

Opinion polls predict tight race Domestically, Vucic has pledged higher pensions and public sector salaries, investment in state healthcare and subsidies for young couples.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
Both parties expect whoever wins in November to do so by a tight margin in a state of 738,000 people.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of tight

Adjective

And belief isn’t manufactured by marketing departments, slick hype videos or breathless preseason predictions.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Flaco the owl became a celebrity Central Park resident, with breathless news coverage of Flaco’s impressive self-preservation skills and, eventually, mournful obituaries when Flaco died after flying into a building.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of breathless

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clops

close call

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Style

“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of close

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