CLOSE Synonyms: 566 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

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 cheap

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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2 of 5

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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3 of 5

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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4 of 5

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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5 of 5

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

How does the adjective close contrast with its synonyms?

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

How does the adjective close contrast with its synonyms?

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

How does the adjective close contrast with its synonyms?

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

How does the adjective close contrast with its synonyms?

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

In addition, $300 million will be set aside for a child day care endowment fund — a sharp change from recent weeks when lawmakers had feared that the number could be close to zero because the state had been recently projecting an operating deficit. —

Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026 Then Quentin Davie, the new coach of defending champion Hebron Christian and a close friend, called with an opportunity to join his staff. —

Jack Leo, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 2026

Verb

The goal is to eventually close the island to incarcerated individuals in a decarceration plan, replacing it with four other jails in Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. —

Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland announced that more than a dozen churches in the East Bay will be closing amid ongoing financial woes. —

Tim Fang, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026

Adverb

Some research puts the savings closer to seven or eight hours weekly for regular AI users. —

Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 Over the weekend, highs could climb close to 70. —

Joseph Dames, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026

Noun

Over the past month, SOX is up 40% through Monday’s close. —

Fred Imbert, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026 April is coming to a close, so treat yourself to some great deals before the month ends. —

George Yang, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for close

Recent Examples of Synonyms for close

Adjective

The $1,800 donation, disclosed in a late campaign finance filing posted Monday, comes as the race remains crowded and unsettled ahead of the June 2 primary.

— Teresa Liu, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The adjustable strap keeps it close to the body—ideal for navigating crowded streets and steep hills.

— Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026

Definition of crowded

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clops

close call

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Style

“Close.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/close. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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