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View synonyms for reticent

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈreticence, noun
  • ˈreticently, adverb
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Other Words From

  • reti·cence reti·cen·cy noun
  • reti·cent·ly adverb
  • non·reti·cent adjective
  • non·reti·cent·ly adverb
  • un·reti·cent adjective
  • un·reti·cent·ly adverb
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of reticent1

C19: from Latin reticēre to keep silent, from re- + tacēre to be silent
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Compare Meanings

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

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Example Sentences

The fewer women who take companies public, the more reticent the check writers are, because they may have never seen somebody like you.

New hires are more hesitant to say they don’t understand their responsibilities or reticent to ask how to do certain tasks via Zoom versus in person.

From Fortune

Next, the researchers plan to expand their survey to understand why people are reticent about the vaccine.

Unfortunately, they have also been far too reticent on the need for better access to medicine.

From Fortune

In contrast to generally more reticent American producers, who rarely go on the record on this subject, Lloyd Webber seems willing to talk about his efforts for as long as there is battery life in a recording device.

When asked to evaluate his own work, Leigh was a little more reticent.

When it comes to his own role in the story, Tomlinson is surprisingly reticent.

Back home in New Orleans, Donovan is reticent and Pleasant is reflective, but neither man fit in.

President James Madison, at the time closely allied with Thomas Jefferson, was not reticent about discussing wealth inequality.

And, unlike most of the men on this show, that small fact has made him reticent to start a relationship with his new protégé.

Jim, however, proved to be much more reticent than his friends deemed either necessary or agreeable.

Indeed, earlier that morning he had been closely questioned by the commandant, but had been equally reticent.

Laura was inclined to be reticent, but Tanqueray drew her out by congratulating her on her popularity, on the way she kept it up.

Some of the foot pedestrians are said to have been less reticent about the lamp-posts.

But we all know that this is a subject on which scientific men are apt to be reticent.

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