clammed
Suddenly stopped talking
Clammed is the past tense of clam.
To clam is to dig for clams: We clammed along the shore at low tide.
More commonly, clammed appears in the phrase clammed up, meaning to become silent or refuse to speak: He clammed up when the police arrived.
The image is of a clam snapping its shell shut.
Closed to prevent entry
- closedNot accessible now
- snappedBroke with sudden force
- clenchedContracted with force
- grippedHeld with pressure
squeezed · compressed · pinched · latched · locked · fastened · tightened
Without voice or sound
- quietLacking in sound
- hushedReduced to silence
- speechlessUnable to talk
- wordlessLacking spoken content
tight-lipped · uncommunicative · close-mouthed · mum · buttoned-up · unspoken · voiceless · tongue-tied
sealed
Closed to prevent entry
gripped · squeezed · compressed · pinched · latched · locked · fastened · tightened
mute
Without voice or sound
- quietLacking in sound
- hushedReduced to silence
- speechlessUnable to talk
wordless · tight-lipped · uncommunicative · close-mouthed · mum · buttoned-up · unspoken · voiceless · tongue-tied · withdrawn
guarded
Wary and restrained
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- reticentDisinclined to speak freely
- unforthcomingReluctant to share information
cagey · reserved · discreet · furtive · cryptic · covert · stealthy · veiled · elusive · circumspect
clammedopened up
Became emotionally accessible
unburdened · shared · confessed · revealed · expressed oneself
- clammed upBecame suddenly silent
- clamming upBecoming deliberately silent
- clammy handsMoist, cool grip
- clammy skinCool wet body surface