Antonyms for clam up
| Grammar : Verb |
| Spell : klam |
| Phonetic Transcription : klæm |
- aggravate
- agitate
- aid
- allow
- anger
- annoy
- assist
- be noisy
- bear
- begin
- communicate
- create
- depress
- disagree
- disclose
- disturb
- divulge
- encourage
- excite
- expose
- free
- go along
- grant
- help
- incite
- indulge
- irritate
- lay bare
- let go
- let out
- liberate
- loose
- move
- open
- permit
- persuade
- provoke
- release
- reveal
- show
- start
- talk
- tell
- trouble
- turn up
- uncover
- upset
- use
- worry
Definition of clam up
Origin :- bivalve mollusk, c.1500, in clam-shell, originally Scottish, apparently a particular use from Middle English clam "pincers, vice, clamp" (late 14c.), from Old English clamm "bond, fetter, grip, grasp," from Proto-Germanic *klam- "to press or squeeze together" (cf. Old High German klamma "cramp, fetter, constriction," German Klamm "a constriction"). If this is right then the original reference is to the shell. Clam-chowder attested from 1822. To be happy as a clam is from 1833, but the earliest uses do not elaborate on the notion behind it, unless it be self-containment.
- As in quiet : verb make silent, calm
- As in silence : verb make or be quiet
- As in stifle : verb prevent, restrain
- As in withhold : verb keep back
- As in : verb keep silent
- As in quieten : verb silence
- As in shush : verb silence
- A little general chitchat once in a while, then she'd clam up to do a little mental orbit figuring.
- Extract from : « A Spaceship Named McGuire » by Gordon Randall Garrett
Synonyms for clam up
- abstain
- allay
- ameliorate
- appease
- asphyxiate
- assuage
- be silent
- becalm
- black out
- bridle
- bring to screeching halt
- burke
- button one's lip
- button up
- calm down
- can it
- check
- choke
- choke back
- choke off
- clam
- clam up
- clamp down
- close up
- compose
- conceal
- console
- constipate
- constrain
- cool it
- cool out
- cork
- cover up
- crack down
- curb
- cut off
- cut short
- dampen
- deaden
- decrease the volume
- deduct
- deny
- detain
- disallow
- dry up
- dull
- dumb
- dummy up
- extinguish
- fix up
- gag
- gratify
- hide
- hold
- hold back
- hold down
- hold it down
- hold one's tongue
- hold out
- hold out on
- hush
- hush one's mouth
- hush up
- hush-hush
- ice
- inactivate
- inhibit
- keep
- keep it down
- keep one's trap shut
- keep secret
- keep to oneself
- keep under one's hat
- keep under wraps
- kill
- lull
- moderate
- mollify
- muffle
- mute
- muzzle
- not let out a peep
- overawe
- pacify
- palliate
- patch things up
- pipe down
- please
- put the lid on
- quash
- quell
- quiet
- quiet down
- quieten
- reconcile
- refrain
- refuse
- relax
- repress
- reserve
- resist
- restrain
- retain
- satisfy
- say nothing
- settle
- shush
- shut up
- silence
- sit on
- slack
- smooth
- smother
- soft-pedal
- soften
- soothe
- spike
- square
- squash
- squelch
- stagnate
- stifle
- still
- stop
- stop oneself
- strangle
- strike dumb
- stroke
- stultify
- subdue
- suffocate
- suppress
- take the bite out of
- tongue-tie
- torpedo
- trammel
- tranquilize
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019