1
as in close
closely acquainted
intimate friends who can practically finish each other's sentences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
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
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
Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
Nearby, a swath of people dressed mostly in red, white and blue gathered in a circle, many holding American flags, for a small, intimate ceremony remembering the life of Charlie Kirk.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
Jonathan Mahler, Curbed, 1 Aug. 2025
Doncic arrived at Dyckman at 8:11 p.m., making his grand entrance just after the first game ended, and didn’t leave until 90 minutes later — an eternity for a superstar in a setting this intimate.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025
Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Having intimated a willingness to pay £120m ($162m) in July, the Reds then officially bid £110m ($148m) at the beginning of August.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimate
Adjective
The yacht’s intimate scale allows access to some ports that larger cruise ships can’t visit, according to Murren, the CEO.
—Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025
Nearby, a swath of people dressed mostly in red, white and blue gathered in a circle, many holding American flags, for a small, intimate ceremony remembering the life of Charlie Kirk.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
He was joined in the presidential suite on the 21st floor by a small crowd of his remaining intimates.
—Jonathan Mahler, Curbed, 1 Aug. 2025
Doncic arrived at Dyckman at 8:11 p.m., making his grand entrance just after the first game ended, and didn’t leave until 90 minutes later — an eternity for a superstar in a setting this intimate.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025
Verb
Poptimism intimated that critics should not just take pop music seriously but celebrate it—or else.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Having intimated a willingness to pay £120m ($162m) in July, the Reds then officially bid £110m ($148m) at the beginning of August.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intimate
Adjective
-
He was acquired, along with closer Victor Vodnik, in a July 2023 trade with the Braves for reliever Pierce Johnson.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
17 Sep. 2025
-
In the last fortnight alone, Starmer's Deputy Prime Minister and close ally Angela Rayner has resigned after a house tax scandal, triggering a major cabinet reshuffle.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
All calls are toll-free and confidential.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Incomes and inheritances are not confidential matters.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Trump doesn’t have very many friends on the global stage that are from the left.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Some Wordlers also play Competitive Wordle against friends, family, the Wordle Bot or even against me, your humble narrator.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And many Democrats, who polls indicate still believe in Russiagate in significant numbers, likely clapped.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Remember that cognitive difficulty often signals growth, just as physical soreness after exercise indicates muscle development.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
On the other side of the equation, the Chiefs’ receiving corps has looked eerily familiar.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The inertia of familiar patterns keeps people locked into old routines.—
Thomas Lim,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The executives were able to meet with Pope Leo in a private audience that included others, according to a person familiar with the matter.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This is the web version of Term Sheet, a daily newsletter on the biggest deals and dealmakers in venture capital and private equity.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In his breakthrough role, Redford played the brusque and dangerous Sundance opposite Paul Newman's personable Butch in the box-office smash, the iconic buddy Western about two outlaws on the run after a series of train robberies.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Roxie’s kitchen buddy Tony (Robin de Jesús) is just Roxie’s buddy.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The bank double upgraded shares of the chocolate and cocoa products company to buy from sell and hiked its price target to $222 from $170, which implies more than 19% upside from Monday's closing price.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
-
As the name implies, this chili comes together in a flash, just like lightning.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intimate. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share