Closely — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Related Entry: Close (adjective)

Close is a different word from Closely. The synonyms below are for close, not for closely.

1. having little space between items or parts

   "the soldiers marched in close formation against the enemy"

   similar: compact, crowded, dense, jam-packed, packed, serried, thick, tight
   related: crammed, jammed, overcrowded, crushed, massed, pressed, squeezed, wall-to-wall, airtight, snug, compacted, compressed, condensed, congested, firm, hard, solid, impenetrable, impermeable, impervious
   opposite: airy, loose, open, uncrowded
   near: commodious, roomy, spacious

2. 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"

   similar: close-up, immediate, near, nearby, neighboring, next-door, nigh, proximate, at hand, to hand
   related: abutting, adjacent, adjoining, bordering, contiguous, approaching, coming, forthcoming, oncoming, upcoming, accessible, convenient, handy, close-in, hand-to-hand
   opposite: away, deep, distant, far, faraway, far-off, remote
   near: divorced, removed, separated

3. showing little difference in the standing of the competitors

   "the election results were so close that the votes had to be recounted"

   similar: down-to-the-wire, hairbreadth, narrow, neck and neck, nip and tuck, tight
   related: crowded

4. closely acquainted

   "a small wedding ceremony that was limited to close friends"

   similar: bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, especial, familiar, friendly, inseparable, intimate, inward, near, thick, tight
   related: clannish, close-knit, tight-knit, affable, boon, companionable, convivial, cordial, genial, gracious, hearty, gregarious, sociable, social, comfortable, cozy, easy, snug, amicable, neighborly, confidential, secretive, adoring, affectionate, dear, devoted, fond, loving, tender, tenderhearted, warm
   opposite: distant
   near: aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawn

5. 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"

   similar: closemouthed, dark, reticent, secretive, tight-mouthed, uncommunicative
   related: quiet, reserved, silent, taciturn, tight-lipped, discreet, prudent, clandestine, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, secret, sneak, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underhand, underhanded
   opposite: communicative, open
   near: candid, frank, honest, out-front, up-front, blunt, outspoken, tactless

6. giving or sharing as little as possible

   "the kind of folks who are very close when charity calls"

   similar: cheap, chintzy, closefisted, mean, mingy, miserly, parsimonious, penny-pinching, penurious, pinching, pinchpenny, spare, sparing, stingy, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous
   related: careful, chary, conserving, economical, economizing, frugal, saving, scrimping, skimping, thrifty, acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, greedy, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious, selfish, shabby, small, sordid, begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful, inhospitable
   opposite: bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, liberal, munificent, openhanded, unsparing, unstinting
   near: altruistic, selfless, unselfish, extravagant, free, handsome, lavish, overgenerous, profuse, beneficent, benevolent, hospitable, humanitarian, philanthropic, compassionate, good-hearted, greathearted, kindly, magnanimous, openhearted, thriftless, unthrifty, dissipating, frittering, prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, splurging, squandering, wasteful, wasting

7. lacking fresh air

   "a small room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere"

   similar: breathless, stifling, stuffy, suffocating
   related: airless, unventilated, fuggy, heavy, oppressive, thick
   opposite: airy, breezy, unstuffy
   near: bracing, brisk, invigorating, refreshed, refreshing, restorative, reviving, sweet, ventilated

8. meeting the highest standard of accuracy

   "a close analysis of the box-office performance of action movies"

   similar: accurate, delicate, exact, fine, hairline, mathematical, pinpoint, precise, refined, rigorous, spot-on
   related: correct, right, strict, true, definite, definitive, nice, subtle, careful, fastidious, finical, finicky, meticulous
   opposite: coarse, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, rough
   near: approximate, round, false, incorrect, untrue, wrong, careless, loose, indefinite, unclear, vague, doubtful, dubious, questionable, unreliable, untrustworthy