CLOSE Synonyms: 568 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 next

as in crowded

having little space between items or parts the soldiers marched in close formation against the enemy

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Relevance

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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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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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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 careful

giving or sharing as little as possible the kind of folks who are very close when charity calls

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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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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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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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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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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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noun (2)

ˈklōz

as in ending

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

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as in conclusion

the last part of a process or action managed to conduct the negotiations to a satisfactory close

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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

Barghouti is a close aide of Marwan Barghouti, a popular Fatah leader who remains in Israeli custody. —

Greg Norman, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025 The nine semifinalists for those two programs is tops in the entire tournament, with the Grand Junction girls the next closest with seven in the 5A girls brackets. —

The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2025

Verb

The bar specializing in all-things-bubbly closed its doors at 1764 Frankfort Ave. —

Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 15 Feb. 2025 Asylum has effectively ground to a halt in the past nine months, following an order by President Joe Biden, who set a daily crossing cap that closed applications in June 2024. —

Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025

Adverb

One helicopter landed a block north of its target and couldn’t move closer because of ground fire. —

Randall Colburn, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025 Chipotle posted its quarterly report Tuesday after close, beating on earnings and meeting revenue expectations. —

Julie Coleman, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2025

Noun

As the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival comes to a close, the winning films have been chosen. —

Glenn Garner, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025 Sullivan critiqued Oakley for not raising objections for over two months, and then only doing so on Jan. 29, two days before the close of fact discovery. —

Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for close

Recent Examples of Synonyms for close

Adjective

In New York in the late 1920s, TB was more common among the poor who lived in crowded, often unsanitary conditions.

— Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025
In the simulated scenario, a fictional freight train carrying hazardous materials through a crowded area derails in a fiery explosion, burning or otherwise injuring 800 people.

— Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2025