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
• reticency noun
• reticently adverb
• 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

Example Sentences

He had the grumpy, reticent look of a person who preferred animals to people.

Read more on Literature

Local prosecutors have long been reticent to prosecute law enforcement officers in on-duty shootings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She certainly wasn’t reticent about other men in the Epstein circle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Fleischaker said it would be difficult to increase deportations, even with Border Patrol leaders at the helm, because of the complexities around securing travel documents and negotiating with countries that are reticent to accept deportees.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Betting on perfection is a dangerous place to be in so we’ve been reticent to pile on to the momentum trades.”

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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