adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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:
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.
Vocabulary lists containing reticent
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Grade 12, List 1
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Dracula
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Reticent about things best left unsaid, they dare instead to be witty, charming and disarmingly heartfelt.
From Washington Post • Oct. 29, 2022
Reticent to discuss the suit with The Times, she says regarding its contents: “I think it’s disrespectful to report on.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2022
Reticent with the news media, she does not give interviews or engage in small talk with crime reporters, never going beyond her brief in news conferences.
From New York Times • Feb. 28, 2014
Reticent David Byrne was behind him in the celebrity queue and never got a chance to tell Win what he thought, vanishing into the New York night.
From The Guardian • Jul. 31, 2010
Reticent as he had been in the beginning, the chauffeur now seemed to like Lee; he was proud to explain.
From The Brain by Blade, Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
