The difference between Familiar and Intimate

When used as nouns, familiar means an attendant spirit, often in animal or even demon form, whereas intimate means a very close friend.

When used as adjectives, familiar means known to one, whereas intimate means closely acquainted.


Intimate is also verb with the meaning: to suggest or disclose (something) discreetly.

check bellow for the other definitions of Familiar and Intimate

  1. Familiar as an adjective:

    Known to one.

    Examples:

    "there’s a familiar face; that tune sounds familiar'"

  2. Familiar as an adjective:

    Acquainted.

    Examples:

    "I'm quite familiar with this system; she's not familiar with manual gears"

  3. Familiar as an adjective:

    Intimate or friendly.

    Examples:

    "we are not on familiar terms; our neighbour is not familiar'"

  4. Familiar as an adjective:

    Inappropriately intimate or friendly.

    Examples:

    "Don’t be familiar with me, boy!"

    "rfquotek Camden"

  5. Familiar as an adjective:

    Of or pertaining to a family; familial.

  1. Familiar as a noun:

    An attendant spirit, often in animal or even demon form.

    Examples:

    "The witch’s familiar was a black cat."

  2. Familiar as a noun (obsolete):

    A member of one's family or household.

  3. Familiar as a noun (obsolete):

    A close friend.

  4. Familiar as a noun (historical):

    The officer of the Inquisition who arrested suspected people.

  1. Intimate as an adjective:

    Closely acquainted; familiar.

    Examples:

    "an intimate friend"

    "He and his sister deeply valued their intimate relationship as they didn't have much else to live for."

  2. Intimate as an adjective:

    Of or involved in a sexual relationship.

    Examples:

    "She enjoyed some intimate time alone with her husband."

  3. Intimate as an adjective:

    Personal; private.

    Examples:

    "an intimate setting"

  4. Intimate as an adjective:

    Pertaining to details that require great familiarity to know.

  1. Intimate as a noun:

    A very close friend.

    Examples:

    "Only a couple of intimates had ever read his writing."

  2. Intimate as a noun:

    (in plural intimates) Women's underwear, sleepwear, or lingerie, especially offered for sale in a store.

    Examples:

    "You'll find bras and panties in the women's intimates section upstairs."

  1. Intimate as a verb (ambitransitive):

    To suggest or disclose (something) discreetly.

    Examples:

    "He intimated that we should leave before the argument escalated."

  2. Intimate as a verb (transitive, India):

    To notify.

    Examples:

    "I will intimate you when the details are available."