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Synonyms

intimately

American  
[in-tuh-mit-lee] / ˈɪn tə mɪt li /

adverb

  1. in a way that entails, assumes, or suggests a close, warm, trusting personal relationship.

    He was quick to rebuke others, but only those he knew intimately and loved dearly.

    Churchill spoke intimately and easily over the wireless to his own people during the war.

  2. in a way that arises from long or frequent direct personal experience.

    Cycling acquaints you intimately with every bump, slice, crease, divot, ledge, ripple, and pothole in a street.

  3. in a way that affords or encourages privacy, coziness, closeness of interaction, etc..

    The small tables are so that people can converse more intimately, even among a larger group.

    The beautifully renovated 150-seat theater offers an intimately scaled setting with state-of-the-art acoustics.

  4. in a way that involves a close union or connection.

    Many of the ailments seen in the inpatient service are intimately linked to the malnutrition plaguing the region.

  5. in a way that involves or suggests sex.

    Posts must not contain name-calling, profanity, or intimately explicit material.

    Chlamydia is an intimately transmitted infection.

  6. in a deep and detailed way.

    Her letters and journals reveal a woman intimately involved in the day-to-day happenings of the school.

  7. in the innermost depths of one’s mind or heart.

    It has given me an opportunity to share ideas, thoughts, and intimately held beliefs with others equally interested in deeper questions.

  8. next to the skin, as underclothing, wigs, etc..

    Please read our exchange policy carefully; these are quality garments that are worn intimately and hence cannot be exchanged or returned.


Etymology

Origin of intimately

intimate 1 ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Sad because for four years we've worked intimately together and we've been through a lot together.

From BBC Jun. 29, 2026

That idea does feel apt: It is surprising how little technology exists to facilitate communication between humans and dogs, considering how intimately the two species have coevolved.

From Slate Jun. 20, 2026

This is, again, something queer people know intimately.

From Salon Jun. 5, 2026

There were also differences between legal experts — those most intimately involved in the judicial system — and the public at large.

From Los Angeles Times May 24, 2026

It was Noor laughing intimately with the tattooed boy in the narrow alley behind the McDonald’s.

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

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