as in hushed
to stop talking
the little girl clammed up when the doctor came into the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 clammed up
But when co-host Maria McErlane looked for details, Norton clammed up.
—
Joseph Wilkinson, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
The famously outgoing media personality clammed up, on air and off, thanks to a terrifying stranger.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
Joseph Wilkinson, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
The famously outgoing media personality clammed up, on air and off, thanks to a terrifying stranger.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clammed up
Verb
-
While most were silent, the few who traded muted pleasantries hushed as the homeowners of the Silver Court Trailer Park commenced their meeting.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Inside the main museum, the galleries are hushed and sunlit, the light filtered through Renzo Piano’s famous roof.—
Carrie Honaker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Saudi Arabia doesn’t depend as much on foreign tourists, but internal travel is driven by events, and as conferences, concerts, and major sporting fixtures like Formula 1 have been postponed, bookings have dried up.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Of course, the federal government was disbursing billions in COVID-19 aid to states during 2022, the flow of which has dried up as governments face sober fiscal realities.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the only way to shut up his doubters is to win.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
That tom gobbled once more and shut up.—
Charles Elliott,
Outdoor Life,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clammed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clammed%20up. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
