Synonyms

tight-lipped

American

[tahyt-lipt] / ˈtaɪtˈlɪpt /

adjective

speaking very little; taciturn; close-mouthed.
having the lips drawn tight.

tight-lipped British

adjective

reticent, secretive, or taciturn
with the lips pressed tightly together, as through anger

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tight-lipped

First recorded in 1875–80

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.

While Apple has been tight-lipped about its AI strategy this year, Ives thinks that will change next month when the company holds its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

Gorka has been tight-lipped about the contents of his strategy.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026

As they lined up to play South Korea in their first game of the tournament, a camera panned across the team, whose faces were drawn and tight-lipped.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Why exactly work stopped remains something of a mystery, with the site owner and local authority remaining tight-lipped, and people sharing theories with Jay online.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

James gave a tight-lipped smile and returned to scribbling notes about Maddie’s cipher.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023