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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Recent Examples of buttoned-up
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
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttoned-up
Adjective
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The property comes with a detached garage with a stylish glass garage door and a car charger.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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The designation includes the original detached garage, pool and relevant landscape design elements.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Placing in a distant second was Trump Jr., with 12%.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2025
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To be clear: The consumer version of a psychiatric BCI like Inner Cosmos’ Digital Pill may be just as distant or hypothetical as any other BCI.—
Naveen Rao,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But the weather is expected to be cold and rainy in Chicago.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
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The nights are cold still, though bundling up is certainly an option.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The retro cool of the bar matches the retro cool of the building, which makes sense: Nostalgia is a primary ingredient of Pier Top’s appeal.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2025
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Wayfair Sleep Cooling Down-Alternative Gel Fiber Bed Pillow Set Stop flipping pillows for a cool spot and swap in these gel fiber ones.—
Ali Faccenda,
People.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But Vientos was surprised to find out that someone who plays with so much flair on the field was so reserved.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2025
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Cartagena, Spain, won third prize for its assistance to people with disabilities bathing at popular beaches, and for reserved accessible seats at public events.—
Troy Aidan Sambajon,
The Christian Science Monitor,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buttoned-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttoned-up. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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