Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Held together by strong social or cultural bonds: Describes a group of people who are very closely connected, supportive, and loyal to each other, often sharing strong emotional or social ties.
   • Characterized by unity and mutual support: Indicates a tight, cohesive structure within a community, family, or organization where members are deeply interconnected.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • They are a close-knit family that supports each other through every challenge.
  • The close-knit community rallied together to help rebuild the neighbor's house after the fire.
  • Working in a small, close-knit team allows for excellent communication and trust.

Advanced Usage

• "tight-knit": This is a common variant with the same meaning.
  • The alumni from that university form a tight-knit network that helps graduates find jobs.

Variants and Related Words

• Closely knit (adj phrase): Functionally identical to "close-knit," often used before a noun.
  • It was a closely knit organization with shared values.

Synonyms

• Tightly bonded: Strongly united.
• Cohesive: Characterized by unity and sticking together.
• United: Joined together politically, emotionally, or in purpose.

Antonyms

• Fragmented: Broken into parts; lacking unity.
• Disconnected: Not joined or linked; lacking a sense of community.
• Aloof: Not friendly or forthcoming; distant.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To be thick as thieves: (Idiom) To be very close friends, often secretively. While not a direct synonym, it shares the concept of a very tight, private bond, similar to a close-knit group.
  • Those two have been thick as thieves since childhood, just like a close-knit pair.

Adjective

1. held together as by social or cultural ties
   • a close-knit family
   • close-knit little villages
   • the group was closely knit