buttoned-up

adjective

but·​toned-up ˈbə-tᵊnd-ˈəp How to pronounce buttoned-up (audio)
: coldly reserved or standoffish
a buttoned-up executive

Examples of buttoned-up in a Sentence

a buttoned-up colleague who had no interest in talking about anything but work, even at parties
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Bottom Line The era of buttoned-up, corporate talk is over. Lindsey Groepper, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 Based on Nick Payne’s screenplay, the nonlinear love story follows the buttoned-up Tobias (Garfield) and the spunky Almut (Florence Pugh) over the course of a decade-long relationship that is, suffice it to say, filled with both high highs and extremely low lows. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2024 The button-down shirt Pop the collar, roll up the sleeves, wear it loose or completely buttoned-up—a relaxed button-down shirt is an easygoing layer that adds instant polish to jeans and sequin skirts. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 9 Aug. 2024 Lawyer shows are usually buttoned-up and serious, but this show was as focused on office gossip and the characters' personal lives as the details of their legal cases. Christian Holub, EW.com, 17 July 2024 In Funny Story, buttoned-up Daphne loves her relationship with her fiancé Peter. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2024 At that time, everything was very buttoned-up and safe in theater. Nicole Acheampong, New York Times, 26 June 2024 But Robert keeps his own secrets close to the vest, or, rather, his buttoned-up Palm Royale bartending uniform. Fawnia Soo Hoo, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2024 Brie, accustomed to playing buttoned-up Type-A characters, has a lot of fun with Amy's hippie-dippie aesthetic. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of buttoned-up was in 1767

Dictionary Entries Near buttoned-up

Cite this Entry

“Buttoned-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buttoned-up. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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