What this suffix does
-lipped describes lips or, figuratively, how much someone talks: tight-lipped (silent, gives nothing away), loose-lipped (talks too much).
ESEN
Suffix · forms adjectives
-lipped
Describes someone's lips or, figuratively, how much they talk: tight-lipped (saying little) and loose-lipped (talking too freely).
In Spanish: de labios / de boca / reservado / calladoIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
How it is formed
Adjective + lipped.
- tight + lippedtight-lipped (saying little, secretive)
- loose + lippedloose-lipped (talking too freely, indiscreet)
- thin + lippedthin-lipped (having thin lips)
This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.
How it is pronounced
-lipped
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Examples
Base word
With -lipped
In a phrase
- tighttight-lippedShe stayed tight-lipped about the surprise party.
- thinthin-lippedHe gave a thin-lipped smile and said nothing else.
- looseloose-lippedBe careful what you tell him, he's a bit loose-lipped.
- stiffstiff-lippedThe soldier stayed stiff-lipped through the whole ceremony.
- fullfull-lippedThe portrait shows a full-lipped young woman.
Common mistakes
tight-lipped = angry
tight-lipped = deliberately withholding information; refusing to speak
"Tight-lipped" specifically describes the withholding of information — deliberate silence or refusal to comment. It does not necessarily mean angry. A tight-lipped response can be neutral, defensive, cautious, or professional. A politician who is tight-lipped about a policy may be angry or may simply be strategic. The compound describes the behaviour, not the emotion behind it.
thin-lipped = a neutral description of physical lip shape
thin-lipped in context almost always signals disapproval or cold displeasure
"Thin-lipped" refers to the way the lips press together when a person is suppressing strong disapproval or controlled anger. It is a highly visual image of emotion held back: the pressed-thin lips are a sign of displeasure that is not being expressed verbally. While some people have naturally thin lips, in literary use "thin-lipped" almost always implies a particular expression of controlled negative emotion.
A trick to remember it
"Lip" = lip, literal. Picture lips pressed shut, letting nothing out: tight-LIPPED = gives nothing away. loose-LIPPED = lips too loose, everything slips out.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"loose-lipped" describes someone who...
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -lipped mean in English?
The suffix -lipped describes someone's lips or, figuratively, how much they talk: tight-lipped (saying little) and loose-lipped (talking too freely). In Spanish it usually maps to de labios / de boca / reservado / callado.
Can you give an example of a word with -lipped?
"tight" becomes "tight-lipped". It is a typical example of the -lipped suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-faced
Describes someone's attitude or expression, literal or moral: two-faced (fake, hypocritical) and straight-faced (keeping a serious expression).
-spoken
Describes someone's tone or style of speaking: soft-spoken (speaking gently) and outspoken (speaking one's mind bluntly).
-tongued
Describes how someone talks: silver-tongued (persuasive, eloquent) and sharp-tongued (cutting, harsh in speech).
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