The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word CLOSER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
L
O
S
E
R
More clues leading to the result CLOSER
- Someone finishing on more intimate terms
- College failure becomes a pitcher
- Conservativeis more dense
- Cold person seen as victim becomes more intimate
- Constant runner-up is more compact
- Less fresh challenger at first one defeated
- Less open Conservative defeated opponent
- Complete run within a shorter distance
- Shutter, so to speak, that’s not so far away
- More famiiar Conservative defeated opponent
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Someone finishing/on more intimate terms" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case someone finishing/on more intimate terms = closer.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CLOSER mean?
CLOSER adjective- Closed, shut.
- Narrow; confined.
- At a little distance; near.
- Intimate; well-loved.
- Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude.
- (Ireland, England, Scotland) Hot, humid, with no wind.
- (of a vowel) Articulated with the tongue body relatively close to the hard palate.
- Strictly confined; carefully guarded.
- Out of the way of observation; secluded; secret; hidden.
- Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced.
- Short.
- Dense; solid; compact.
- Concise; to the point.
- Difficult to obtain.
- Parsimonious; stingy.
- Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact.
- Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict.
- Marked, evident.
- Someone or something that closes.
- Someone or something that concludes.
- The last stone in a horizontal course, if smaller than the others; a piece of brick finishing a course.
- A relief pitcher who specializes in getting the last three outs of the game. See Wikipedia:closer (baseball)