intimate
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- close, bosom, confidential, dear, near, thick (informal)
- personal, confidential, private, secret
- detailed, deep, exhaustive, first-hand, immediate, in-depth, profound, thorough
- snug, comfy (informal), cosy, friendly, warm
[noun]
Synonyms:
- friend, close friend, confidant or confidante, (constant) companion, crony
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[verb]
Synonyms:
- suggest, hint, imply, indicate, insinuate
- announce, communicate, declare, make known, state

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Contrasted words: air, express, utter, vent, voice, affirm, assert, aver, avouch, declare, profess, distant, remote, outsider, stranger
Related Idioms: thick as thieves
Related Words: attest, bespeak, betoken, indicate, nearest, next, affectionate, devoted, fond, loving, privy, secret, associate, companion, comrade, crony

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English Thesaurus: private, personal, secret, intimate, innermost, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. in‧ti‧mate¹ /ˈɪntəmət, ˈɪntɪmət/ adjective
[Date: 1600-1700; Origin: intime 'intimate' (1600-1700), from Latin intimus; ⇒ intimate²]

1. RESTAURANT/MEAL/PLACE private and friendly so that you feel comfortable:
the intimate atmosphere of a country pub
an intimate meal for two
The collection has been moved from its intimate setting to the British Museum.

2. FRIENDS having an extremely close friendship:
an intimate friend of Picasso’s
an intimate relationship
She’s on intimate terms with people in government.

3. intimate knowledge of something very detailed knowledge of something as a result of careful study or a lot of experience:
his intimate knowledge of the coal industry

4. PRIVATE relating to very private or personal matters:
the publication of intimate details of their affair

5. SEX formal
a) relating to sex:
The virus can only be transmitted through intimate contact.
b) be intimate with somebody to have sex with someone

6. intimate link/connection etc a very close connection between two things:
the intimate connection between physical and mental health
—intimately adverb:
The two aspects are intimately connected.
I am intimately acquainted with the state of my bank account.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. in‧ti‧mate² /ˈɪntəmeɪt, ˈɪntɪmeɪt/ verb [transitive] formal
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: past participle of intimare 'to put in, announce', from Latin intimus 'furthest inside', from an unrecorded Latin interus; ⇒ interior²]
to make people understand what you mean without saying it directly
intimate that
He intimated, politely but firmly, that we were not welcome.
intimate something to somebody
She had already intimated to me her wish to leave.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. in‧ti‧mate³ /ˈɪntəmət, ˈɪntɪmət/ noun [countable] formal
a close personal friend

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

private if something is private, you do not want most people to know about it because it concerns your feelings, your relationships etc:
He didn’t want to discuss his private life.
What happens in the bedroom is strictly private.
personal relating to your private life – used especially about problems, feelings, and questions:
They asked a lot of personal questions.
She talked about her own personal feelings.
I’d rather not talk about it – it’s personal.
The singer has had a lot of problems in her personal life.
secret [only before noun] used about feelings and thoughts that you do not tell anyone about:
Barclay had a secret desire to become an actor.
His secret fear was that Jenny would leave him.
intimate very private – used about things relating to your relationships and sexual feelings:
an intimate conversation
Many people share intimate details of their lives on the Internet.
their intimate moments together
innermost [only before noun] your innermost feelings, thoughts etc are your most private ones:
Counselling often encourages you to reveal your innermost thoughts.
be none of sb’s business if something is none of your business, it is private and you should not ask about it:
It’s none of your business how much I earn.
‘Are you married?’ ‘That’s none of your business.’

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲