intimacy

noun

in·​ti·​ma·​cy ˈin-tə-mə-sē 

plural intimacies

1

: the state of being intimate : familiarity

2

: something of a personal or private nature

Synonyms

• belonging
• chumminess
• closeness
• familiarity
• inseparability
• nearness

Examples of intimacy in a Sentence

the intimacy of old friends

the intimacy of their relationship

He felt he achieved a certain intimacy with her.

The band liked the intimacy of the nightclub.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Leo full moon activates themes of intimacy and transformation, encouraging you to dive deeper into your emotional connections. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2025

Couples therapy helped with the arguing but not the intimacy. —Anna Salinas, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

This movie just felt different, though, in exploring the intimacy of a friendship and the loss of that friendship, versus romantic love. —Tomris Laffly, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2025

There is a difference, Koul outlines, between argument as a means of progress, even intimacy, and getting stuck in a harmful cycle that achieves neither. —Hazlitt, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

intimacy

noun

in·​ti·​ma·​cy ˈint-ə-mə-sē 

plural intimacies

1

: the state of being intimate

2

: something of a personal or private nature

shared little intimacies in their letters