reticent

[ret-uh-suhnt]

adjective

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

   Synonyms: uncommunicative, quiet, taciturn
   Antonyms: voluble, talkative

2. reluctant or restrained.

reticent

/ ˈrɛtɪsənt /

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of reticent¹

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” ( tacit ) + -ent- adjective suffix; re-, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of reticent¹

C19: from Latin reticēre to keep silent, from _re- + tacēre to be silent

Related Words

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