1. Definition & Meaning
- Intimacy (noun): A close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person, characterized by mutual trust, understanding, and emotional or physical closeness.
2. Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈɪn.tɪ.mə.si/
- Breakdown: IN-ti-muh-see
3. Grammatical Formation
| Part of Speech | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | intimacy / intimacies | “They valued intimacy in their friendship.” |
| Adjective | intimate / more intimate | “They shared intimate details about their past.” |
4. Synonyms (comma‑separated)
closeness, familiarity, affection, confidentiality, nearness
5. Antonyms (comma‑separated)
distance, aloofness, remoteness, coolness, detachment
6. Related Terms
- Emotional intimacy: Sharing feelings, thoughts, and vulnerabilities.
- Physical intimacy: Affectionate or sexual closeness.
- Trust: Confidence in another’s reliability and care.
- Vulnerability: Willingness to show one’s true self.
- Confidentiality: Keeping personal information private.
7. Common Collocations
- build intimacy
- deepen intimacy
- maintain intimacy
- emotional intimacy
- physical intimacy
- levels of intimacy
- intimate relationship
- share intimacy
8. Idiomatic Usage & Expressions
- “Bare one’s soul” – reveal one’s deepest feelings, fostering intimacy.
- “Under the covers” – sharing private or romantic moments.
- “Close and personal” – very intimate or detailed.
- “Intimate details” – very private or personal information.
- “Get intimate” – to become emotionally or physically close.
9. Sample Sentences
- “They took a long walk to build emotional intimacy.”
- “Sharing fears and dreams helped deepen their intimacy.”
- “Physical intimacy can include holding hands or hugging.”
- “She trusted him with intimate details of her childhood.”
- “Maintaining intimacy in a long‑distance relationship requires effort.”