Standard Lemma guide

tight-lipped

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Having the lips pressed tightly together, hence, not speaking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: literal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Unwilling to divulge information.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From tight + lipped.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: мълчалив (mǎlčaliv) — unwilling to divulge information
  • German: schmallippig — unwilling to divulge information
  • Hungarian: szűkszavú — unwilling to divulge information
  • Hungarian: szófukar — unwilling to divulge information
  • Hungarian: hallgatag — unwilling to divulge information
  • Italian: reticente — unwilling to divulge information
  • Italian: nulladicente — unwilling to divulge information
  • Polish: z wodą w ustach — unwilling to divulge information