1
as in secrecy
the practice or habit of keeping secrets or keeping one's affairs secret
we tried to penetrate her strange closeness about her domestic life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in economy
the quality or practice of being overly sparing with money
rebelled against his parents' closeness with his allowance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accuracy
the quality or state of being very accurate
the body was too decomposed to estimate the time of death with any great closeness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in intimacy
the state of being in a very personal or private relationship
the closeness of their relationship was a matter of intense speculation among their coworkers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in proximity
the state or condition of being near
we were surprised by the closeness of everything to our downtown loft
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in carefulness
strict attentiveness to what one is doing
how much you get out of the sermon will depend on the closeness with which you listen to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 closeness
Emotional closeness may feel intense today, as fears around vulnerability, trust, and self-expression surface.
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
From sunrise until the race ended, the pageantry, the competition, the closeness, never seen before.
—Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Though a Grand Slam can actually be won by a rider using different horses, the closeness of the partnership is absolutely crucial to success.
—Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Anxious attachment involves fear of abandonment, intense need for closeness, difficulty acting independently especially with major decisions, and preoccupation with relationships as a way to feel good about themselves.
—Emily Shiffer, Parents, 24 May 2026
The film centers on a pickpocket who survives by exploiting the desires of closeted men, until his detached worldview is upended when one of his marks returns seeking closeness rather than settling scores.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 May 2026
Outfielder Cedric Mullins, a nine-year veteran new to the Rays this season, said a big benefit of the closeness is the ability to have open and frank conversations when necessary.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026
That’s where Klaus Mann (August Diehl), Thomas’ homosexual Communist son, would end up taking his own life, but a furtive phone call between twin brother and sister reveals both their closeness as well as the fractures in a broken family dynamic.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
From sunrise until the race ended, the pageantry, the competition, the closeness, never seen before.
—Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Though a Grand Slam can actually be won by a rider using different horses, the closeness of the partnership is absolutely crucial to success.
—Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Anxious attachment involves fear of abandonment, intense need for closeness, difficulty acting independently especially with major decisions, and preoccupation with relationships as a way to feel good about themselves.
—Emily Shiffer, Parents, 24 May 2026
The film centers on a pickpocket who survives by exploiting the desires of closeted men, until his detached worldview is upended when one of his marks returns seeking closeness rather than settling scores.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 May 2026
Outfielder Cedric Mullins, a nine-year veteran new to the Rays this season, said a big benefit of the closeness is the ability to have open and frank conversations when necessary.
—Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2026
That’s where Klaus Mann (August Diehl), Thomas’ homosexual Communist son, would end up taking his own life, but a furtive phone call between twin brother and sister reveals both their closeness as well as the fractures in a broken family dynamic.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for closeness
Noun
-
The work to preserve our government requires secrecy and seriousness.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
-
Stagg was not allowed to make phone calls to her because of the secrecy surrounding D-day.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Trump has effectively imposed a fuel blockade on the island by threatening tariffs on countries supplying it with fuel, igniting seemingly endless power outages and delivering new blows to the island's already ailing economy.—
Phil Stewart,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
-
In a high-stakes decision that will shape California’s economy for years, air officials late Friday approved a sweeping overhaul of the state’s signature climate program, cap-and-invest.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Integrated force sensors help improve grip control and accuracy, allowing the hand to carry out delicate tasks with consistent performance.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
-
Jennifer Boren Campos Keeps Businesses Organized and Compliant Jennifer Boren Campos, owner of P2 Services, works in an area where accuracy matters every day.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Despite its unnerving intimacy, which suggests either erotic pursuit or familiar proximity, the diminutive print calls to mind the photos of Saul Leiter, a figure surprisingly unmentioned in Ghirri’s essays despite his frequent fond allusions to American street photography.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Lyrically, the songs find the pair confronting the unknowability of adulthood all while careening between the intimacy of folk acoustics and the catharsis of electronic music.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The close proximity of the plant to homes and schools led to widespread outrage and now dozens of lawsuits after residents were displaced for days.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
The only thing that could apparently harm them was proximity to decaying tissues of other species.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
There was no carefulness in it.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
Organizations can benefit by valuing carefulness and concentration not as an obligation, but as a fundamental pillar of success.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
McCarthy is not the first Hollywood conservative to discuss the industry’s secretiveness over Republicanism.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The Chicago White Sox lost slugger Munetaka Murakami for most of Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers because of right hamstring tightness.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
Hinch described the injuries to Mize and Jansen as right groin tightness.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Closeness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/closeness. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
