intimate 1 of 3

adjective

ˈin-tə-mət How to pronounce intimate (audio)
Definition of intimatenext
1
as in close
closely acquainted intimate friends who can practically finish each other's sentences

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace they trusted each other enough to share intimate thoughts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

intimate

2 of 3

noun

ˈin-tə-mət How to pronounce intimate (audio)
as in friend
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another usually quite aloof in public, he's actually very relaxed with his intimates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

intimate

3 of 3

verb

ˈin-tə-ˌmāt How to pronounce intimate (audio)
as in to indicate
to convey an idea indirectly trying to intimate that there was more going on than anyone knew

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word intimate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of intimate are hint, imply, insinuate, and suggest. While all these words mean "to convey an idea indirectly," intimate stresses delicacy of suggestion without connoting any lack of candor.

intimates that there is more to the situation than meets the eye

In what contexts can hint take the place of intimate?

The meanings of hint and intimate largely overlap; however, hint implies the use of slight or remote suggestion with a minimum of overt statement.

hinted that she might get the job

How are the words imply and suggest related as synonyms of intimate?

Imply is close to suggest but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed.

measures implying that bankruptcy was imminent

When would insinuate be a good substitute for intimate?

The words insinuate and intimate can be used in similar contexts, but insinuate applies to the conveying of a usually unpleasant idea in a sly underhanded manner.

insinuated that there were shady dealings

When could suggest be used to replace intimate?

The synonyms suggest and intimate are sometimes interchangeable, but suggest may stress putting into the mind by association of ideas, awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought.

a film title that suggests its subject matter

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 intimate
Adjective
The Colombian musician revisited the 1996 song in an intimate, sing-along style, accompanied by her live band. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025 The intimate, 10-table restaurant is an ode to local farming, seasonal produce and warm hospitality. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2025
Noun
Tahari enters a licensing deal with IHL Group to produce intimates and sleepwear. —Layla Ilchi, WWD, 6 Sep. 2024 Bing Guan | Bloomberg | Getty Images Nike has teamed up with Kim Kardashian’s intimates brand Skims to launch a new line of activewear as the legacy sneaker giant looks to win over more women and better compete with Lululemon, Alo Yoga and Vuori, the companies announced Tuesday. —Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
From music events with Anderson.Paak, Neil Frances, and BANKS to panel conversations with Deadline and Frieze, to culinary tastings with Quintessa Wines and Lalo Tequila to intimate experiences with Surya Spa. —Yola Robert, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Parade, the buzzy intimates brand that was acquired in 2023 by Ariela & Associates, is getting into the swimwear business with a size-inclusive collection. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimate
  1. close
  2. confidential
  3. friend
  4. indicate
  5. familiar
  6. private
  7. buddy
  8. imply
Adjective
  • Among the close friends and family celebrating were Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban.
    — Rachel Flynn, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • After the close, discount retailer Miniso Group (9896 HK, MSO US) missed Q1 estimates while online travel agency Tongcheng (780 HK) beat analyst expectations for Q1.
    — Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Definition of close
Adjective
  • Steve Madden, based in Long Island City, New York, said Adidas sued it twice in 2002 to challenge footwear with two parallel stripes and four parallel stripes, leading to a confidential settlement the next year.
    — Jonathan Stempel, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • But less attention is paid to the trades of executive branch employees and congressional aides whose work could give them access to confidential information likely to influence markets once made public.
    — Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 22 May 2025
Definition of confidential
Noun
  • When playing with friends or business associates, which is mostly the way the president plays the game, all sorts of favor-trading can prevail.
    — Matthew Purdy, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Performing in front of small crowds that sometimes only consisted of family and friends was common for Owens but was balanced by hearing his music on local radio stations like 103.5 The Beat.
    — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025
Definition of friend
Verb
  • That study, which reviewed data from 2009 to 2014, indicated that 8.7 million U.S. children – or roughly 1 in 8 – lived with a parent, or parents, with substance use disorder.
    — Ty Schepis, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
  • Generally, during the summer months, dew points of 55 degrees or lower indicate a dry and comfortable feel.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
Definition of indicate
Adjective
  • The latter star has landed a number of hits throughout the past few years by repurposing melodies and interpolating hooks from older, familiar smashes by other artists, reworking them into something exciting and new for a different audience.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Absence of treatment is not absence of illness, of course, but given how much time Gauguin spent in hospitals, that such a familiar disease would have been missed seems unlikely.
    — Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
Definition of familiar
Adjective
  • The museums are typically built in the presidents’ home states with private donations and endowments.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • The center, which does not receive government funding, relies solely on private donations to keep their programs and facility up and running.
    — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 26 May 2025
Definition of private
Noun
  • The buddy comedy finds Hopps, the police department’s first rabbit cop, working full-time with Wilde, the sly fox and former grifter.
    — Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
  • Photograph: Sabrina Kelly; Getty Images Around the time Smith started working on One Shot, Hay began to suspect that his buddy’s finances were not all in order.
    — Kate Knibbs, Wired News, 20 May 2025
Definition of buddy
Verb
  • Unlike his small-time Israeli rivals, the placards implied, Netanyahu was a savvy statesman who punched above his weight on the international stage, thanks to his unaccented English oratory and ability to inveigle the world’s most powerful people.
    — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
  • The band sued Brinker International, the parent company of Chili’s Grill & Bar, last July, alleging that the use of the Ill Communication song falsely implied that Beastie Boys endorsed Chili’s.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 22 May 2025
Definition of imply

Browse Nearby Words

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intimate
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Cite this Entry

“Intimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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