reticent

American  

[ret-uh-suhnt] / ˈrɛt ə sənt /

adjective

1. disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved.

   Synonyms:

   uncommunicative, quiet, taciturn

   Antonyms:

   voluble, talkative

2. reluctant or restrained.

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reticent British  

/ ˈrɛtɪsənt /

adjective

1. not open or communicative; not saying all that one knows; taciturn; reserved

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Other Word Forms

• reticence
  noun
• reticency
  noun
• nonreticent
  adjective
• unreticent
  adjective
• nonreticently
  adverb
• reticently
  adverb
• unreticently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of reticent

First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin reticent- (stem of reticēns ), present participle of reticēre “to be silent,” equivalent to re- “again, back” + -tic-, combining form of tacēre “to be silent” ( cf. tacit) + -ent- adjective suffix; see re-, -ent

Compare meaning

How does reticent compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• reticent vs. reluctant

Explanation

Reticent means either quiet or restrained. If you're reticent about your feelings, you like to keep them to yourself, and you're probably quiet in rowdy groups where everyone is talking over each other. The original meaning of reticent describes someone who doesn’t like to talk. Be careful in your context, however. Reticent can refer to someone who is restrained and formal, but it can also refer to someone who doesn’t want to draw attention to herself or who prefers seclusion to other people. Don’t confuse reticent with reluctant, which means unwilling.

Related Words

• bashful
• hesitant
• mum
• reserved
• restrained
• shy
• silent
• taciturn