buttoned-up
adjective
but·toned-up
ˈbə-tᵊnd-ˈəp 
: 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
Gail Baines is buttoned-up, repressed school administrator who struggles to connect to people, including her co-workers, her daughter Debbie, and her ex-husband, Max.
—
Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2025
The Las Vegas Stubborn Seed, with its industrial-chic Miami roots, is a restaurant that’s polished but not too polished, an upscale spot that has purposefully chosen to be loose instead of buttoned-up.
—Andy Wang, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Now that Kaya has been promoted to detective, Elsbeth’s patrol officer is Nikki Reynolds, who is more buttoned-up than Kaya but not quite as starchy as Lieutenant Connor.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Most people on LinkedIn try to be professional, buttoned-up, and safe.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Some are more buttoned-up, kind of a federal style.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
Compared with Sanchez’s getup, the buttoned-up Adam Lippes coat and wide-brimmed Eric Javits hat worn by Melania Trump to the Inauguration were tasteful, even demure.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
Use it as a layering piece or wear it buttoned-up on its own.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2024
The Bottom Line The era of buttoned-up, corporate talk is over.
—Lindsey Groepper, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
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Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2025
The Las Vegas Stubborn Seed, with its industrial-chic Miami roots, is a restaurant that’s polished but not too polished, an upscale spot that has purposefully chosen to be loose instead of buttoned-up.
—Andy Wang, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Now that Kaya has been promoted to detective, Elsbeth’s patrol officer is Nikki Reynolds, who is more buttoned-up than Kaya but not quite as starchy as Lieutenant Connor.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Most people on LinkedIn try to be professional, buttoned-up, and safe.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Some are more buttoned-up, kind of a federal style.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
Compared with Sanchez’s getup, the buttoned-up Adam Lippes coat and wide-brimmed Eric Javits hat worn by Melania Trump to the Inauguration were tasteful, even demure.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
Use it as a layering piece or wear it buttoned-up on its own.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2024
The Bottom Line The era of buttoned-up, corporate talk is over.
—Lindsey Groepper, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Buttoned-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buttoned-up. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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