Meanings
comparative more tight-lipped · superlative most tight-lipped · alternative tightlipped
- literalHaving the lips pressed tightly together, hence, not speaking.
Gaining the dak, they were joined on the veranda by four tight-lipped men.
1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XV, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 1621 more example
He would have sprung upon Captain Blood, who stood aloof, alert, tight-lipped, and watchful.
1922, Rafael Sabatini, Captain Blood: His Odyssy, chapter XXV - idiomaticUnwilling to divulge information.
The open access operator has remained tight-lipped over what may have caused the driver to suddenly apply the brake, but stressed that safety was its priority.
2022 May 4, “Network News: RAIB looking into emergency brake application of train at Peterborough”, in RAIL, number 956, page 12Synonyms: closemouthed, discreet, secretive
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveUnwilling to divulge information.
antonym(s) of “unwilling to divulge information”
Origin
Translations
Bulgarian мълчалив
- мълчалив (mălčaliv)unwilling to divulge information
German schmallippig
- schmallippigunwilling to divulge information
Hungarian szűkszavú, szófukar
- szűkszavúunwilling to divulge information
- szófukarunwilling to divulge information
- hallgatagunwilling to divulge information
Italian reticente, nulladicente
- reticenteunwilling to divulge information
- nulladicenteunwilling to divulge information
Polish z wodą w ustach
- z wodą w ustachunwilling to divulge information
Russian неразговорчивый, скрытный
- неразговорчивый (nerazgovorčivyj)unwilling to divulge information
- скрытный (skrytnyj)unwilling to divulge information
Cite this entry
tight-lipped. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tight-lipped
“tight-lipped.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tight-lipped. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tight-lipped,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tight-lipped.
Source: tight-lipped on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.