closeness

C3L1O1S1E1N1E1S1S1
UK/ˈkləʊs.nəs/US/ˈkloʊs.nəs/Australia/ˈkləʉs.nəs/

noun

The state of being close (all senses).

Similar
proximitynearnessintimacystuffinessmeannessminginessniggardlinessniggardness
Opposite
openness
Less commonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nouncloseness (usually uncountable, plural closenesses)

plural closenesses

  1. uncountableusuallyThe state of being close (all senses).

    Synonyms: proximity, nearness

  2. uncountableusuallyThe state of being friends.

    Synonyms: intimacy

  3. uncountableusuallyThe state of being mean or stingy.
  4. uncountableusuallyThe state of being secretive.
  5. uncountableusuallymathematicsThe shortest path between two vertices in a graph.
  6. archaicuncountableusuallySolitude, seclusion.

    I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated / To closeness and the bettering of my mind [...]

    1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe state of being close (all senses).

Similar
proximitynearness

nounThe state of being friends.

Similar
intimacy

More synonyms by meaning

nouna feeling of being intimate and belonging together

Similar
intimacy
Broader
belonging

nounthe quality of being close and poorly ventilated

Similar
stuffiness
Broader
quality

nounthe spatial property resulting from a relatively small distance

Similar
nearness
Broader
distance

nounextreme stinginess

Similar
meannessminginessniggardlinessniggardnessparsimonyparsimoniousnesstightnesstightfistedness
Broader
stinginess

nouncharacterized by a lack of openness (especially about one's actions or purposes)

Similar
secretiveness
Opposite
openness
Broader
unsociabilityunsociableness

nounclose or warm friendship

Similar
familiarityintimacy
Broader
friendliness
Also see
familiarityfriendshipintimacymeannessminginessnearnessniggardlinessniggardnessparsimoniousnessparsimonyproximitysecretivenessstuffinesstightfistednesstightness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From close + -ness.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian прия́телство, стиснатост
  • прия́телство (prijátelstvo)The state of being friends
  • стиснатост (stisnatost)The state of being mean or stingy
  • потайност (potajnost)The state of being secretive
Danish lukkethed
  • lukkethedThe state of being secretive
Finnish läheisyys
  • läheisyysThe state of being friends
German Nähe
  • NäheThe shortest path between two vertices in a graph
Hebrew קִרְבָה
  • קִרְבָה (qirvá)The state of being friends
Polish bliskość
  • bliskośćThe state of being friends
Romanian prietenie
  • prietenieThe state of being friends
Russian уедине́ние
  • уедине́ние (ujedinénije)solitude, seclusion
Spanish estrechez, estrechura
  • estrechezThe state of being friends
  • estrechuraThe state of being friends
  • intimidadThe state of being friends
Tamil நட்பு, தனிமை
  • நட்பு (naṭpu)The state of being friends
  • தனிமை (taṉimai)solitude, seclusion
Turkish yakınlık
  • yakınlıkThe state of being friends

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with closeness

grossness
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

closeness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/closeness

MLA

“closeness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/closeness. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “closeness,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/closeness.

Source: closeness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.