Intimate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˈin-tə-mət/ (adjective) /ˈin-tə-ˌmāt/ (verb) in·ti·mate

Meaning & Definition of Intimate

Intimate (adjective)

  1. marked by a warm friendship developing through long association
  2. suggesting informal warmth or privacy
  3. engaged in, involving, or marked by sex or sexual relations

Intimate (noun)

  1. a very close friend or confidant, an intimate friend

Intimate (verb)

  1. to communicate delicately and indirectly, hint
  2. to make known especially publicly or formally, announce

Intimate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. closely acquainted

    "intimate friends who can practically finish each other's sentences"

    similar: bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, familiar, friendly, inseparable, 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 near: aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawn

  2. not known or meant to be known by the general populace

    "they trusted each other enough to share intimate thoughts"

    similar: behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hush-hush, hushed, inside, nonpublic, private, privy, secret
    related: classified, restricted, top secret, silent, unadvertised, unannounced, undisclosed, unmentioned, unsaid, untold, clandestine, closet, collusive, conspiratorial, covert, furtive, hugger-mugger, occult, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhand, underhanded, personal, closeted, concealed, hidden, repressed, silenced, stifled, suppressed, backstage, offscreen, offstage
    opposite: common, open, public
    near: well-known, advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, enunciated, heralded, proclaimed, professed, promulgated, publicized, published, reported, spotlighted, general, popular, prevailing, vulgar, current, prevalent, rife, widespread, communal, shared

Intimate (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: alter ego, amigo, buddy, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar, friend, mate (chiefly British), musketeer, pal
    related: acquaintance, associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, partner, peer, sport, blood brother, brother, main man, sister, abettor, accomplice, ally, collaborator, confederate, pen pal, benefactor, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher, friendly
    opposite: enemy, foe
    near: adversary, antagonist, competitor, opponent, rival, archenemy, nemesis

Intimate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to convey an idea indirectly

    "trying to intimate that there was more going on than anyone knew"

    similar: allude, hint, imply, indicate, infer, insinuate, suggest
    related: advert, mention, point, refer, signal, signalize, signify, smack (of), smell (of)
    near: announce, declare, proclaim, elucidate, explain, spell out, delineate, describe

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Intimate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Intimate:

Chiefly British: mate
bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, familiar, friendly, inseparable, inward, near, thick, tight, behind-the-scenes, confidential, esoteric, hush-hush, hushed, inside, nonpublic, private, privy, secret, alter ego, amigo, buddy, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, friend, musketeer, pal, allude, hint, imply, indicate, infer, insinuate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Intimate

Words with the opposite meaning of Intimate:

distant, common, open, public, enemy, foe

Related Words for Intimate

clannish, close-knit, tight-knit, affable, boon, companionable, convivial, cordial, genial, gracious, hearty, gregarious, sociable, social, comfortable, cozy, easy, snug, amicable, neighborly, secretive, adoring, affectionate, dear, devoted, fond, loving, tender, tenderhearted, warm

Near Antonyms of Intimate

aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawn, well-known, advertised, aired, announced, blazed, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, enunciated, heralded, proclaimed, professed, promulgated, publicized, published, reported, spotlighted

Word Forms of Intimate

Inflections: intimated, intimating

Derived words: intimately (adverb), intimateness (noun), intimater (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Intimate

alteration of obsolete intime, from Latin intimus see intimate:3

First known use: circa 1632

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Intimate

Words & Phrases Containing Intimate

intimate with, be on intimate terms

Frequently Asked Questions about Intimate

What does "Intimate" mean?

"Intimate" means marked by a warm friendship developing through long association. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: marked by a warm friendship developing through long association. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Intimate"?

Other words for "Intimate" include bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, familiar, friendly and inseparable. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Intimate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Intimate"?

There are 143 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Intimate". Common alternatives include bosom, buddy-buddy, chummy, close, especial, familiar, friendly, inseparable, inward and near.

What is the opposite of "Intimate"?

Antonyms of "Intimate" include distant, common, open, public, enemy and foe. Near antonyms include aloof, antisocial, cold and cool.

How do you use "Intimate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Intimate" in a sentence: "intimate friends who can practically finish each other's sentences"; "they trusted each other enough to share intimate thoughts"; "usually quite aloof in public, he's actually very relaxed with his intimates".

Is "Intimate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Intimate" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Intimate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Intimate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Intimate"?

"Intimate" is pronounced /ˈin-tə-mət/ as an adjective and /ˈin-tə-ˌmāt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as in·ti·mate.