close 1 of 5

1
2
3
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
6
7
8

close

2 of 5

verb

1
as in to shut
to position (something) so as to prevent passage through an opening be sure to close the gate when you leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to close (down)
to stop the operations of the merchant will close the store if business doesn't improve

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5

close

3 of 5

adverb

close

4 of 5

noun (1)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

close

5 of 5

noun (2)

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
What are the noticeable differences in promoting three very different projects on three different platforms so close together? Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025 Other potential groupings include 2006 Emmy winner Mariska Hargitay, who could reunite with her former Law & Order co-lead (and close friend) Christopher Meloni. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
New York won a series over Toronto last weekend to close that season series. Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025 The whole Paramount ordeal happened after nominations voting had already closed. Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
Before all this, India and the United States had been growing steadily closer for nearly three decades. Vaibhav Vats, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025 This type of bag will keep your essentials close without feeling bulky. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Even with the loss of Adam, the Padres’ pecking order in late-and-close games is clear. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025 The Burning Man topples to the ground at the close of the festival in Nevada in 2004. Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for close
Recent Examples of Synonyms for close
Adjective
  • At first glance, Nam-Joon Cho’s lab at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University looks like your typical research facility—scientists toiling away, crowded workbenches, a hum of machinery in the background.
    Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The company has been around for over four decades, and other big-name tech companies, such as IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon, have made the cloud services market more crowded than ever.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Just as a developer is trying to move ahead with plans to raze the historic Excelsior Club in west Charlotte, then rebuild a near replica, a local museum CEO is trying to make the case for saving the structure.
    Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Improving business environment While trade tensions and worries about China's economic slowdown weighed on the near-term outlook, the survey respondents indicated significant improvement in the local regulatory environment.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • They’re also made with arch support and a toe box that’s not too narrow or crammed, per the brand, plus the rubber sole offers a nice cushioned platform with each step.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • With Republicans holding only a narrow majority, the outcomes could shape the balance of power heading into 2026.
    Grace Sandman, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Premiering at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, BRATS offers an intimate look at the group's cultural impact in films such as The Breakfast Club (1985), Back to the Future (1985) and Pretty in Pink (1986), as well as behind-the-scenes footage and promotional clips.
    Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Through these events, the collective bridges intimate gatherings with cultural institutions, extending their commitment to visibility and care.
    Essence, Essence, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For some patients, other tools—like a coronary calcium scan, which can directly show whether there’s silent plaque in the arteries—may be more useful.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
  • One silent element to the transfer portal that is seldom discussed, but important to the athletes, is those pesky classes.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The efficiency and immediacy of space medicine may well influence healthcare innovation far beyond orbit, inspiring systems that are faster, cheaper, and more accessible.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But because the signals are so faint, they can be drowned out by cheap jammers or replaced by counterfeit ones.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • And as Brown’s book races toward its elaborate climax, his (and Langdon’s) breathless effusions about the neuro-technological progress that awaits us sound jarringly out of sync with the anxious, doomy present.
    Book Marks September 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Almost four and a half hours later, the couple woke up to a breathless little boy.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Those physically-accurate models in the digital twin of the data center function exactly like their physical counterparts in the real world.
    Marco Chiappetta, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The goal, administration officials said on a call with reporters Tuesday morning, is to use laws that are already on the books to ensure people receive transparent, accurate information about drugs, especially potential risk factors.
    Will McDuffie, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on close

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!