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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.

Mothers are still overwhelmingly the primary caregivers in American families, and tend to be more sensitive to the challenges of child-rearing than older men, who may have been less intimately involved in its daily struggles.

From Los Angeles Times

I feel like I know different areas of L.A. pretty intimately.

From Los Angeles Times

Malik is intimately acquainted with the stigma and social isolation she talks about.

From BBC

And just like organs that constantly communicate with each other, their work is intimately intertwined.

From Los Angeles Times

The skiers who are more intimately familiar with 3,442 meters of treacherous, steep and terrifyingly icy surfaces tend to use a more chilling description.

From The Wall Street Journal