taciturn

[ tas-i-turn ]

/ ˈtæs ɪˌtɜrn /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR taciturn ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation.

dour, stern, and silent in expression and manner.

Words nearby taciturn

tachyrhythmia, tachysterol, tachytelic, tacit, tacitean, taciturn, taciturnity, tacitus, tack, tack claw, tack hammer

Origin of taciturn

1765–75; < Latin taciturnus, quiet, maintaining silence, equivalent to tacit(us) silent (see tacit) + -urnus adj. suffix of time

SYNONYMS FOR taciturn

1 silent, uncommunicative, reticent, quiet.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR taciturn ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM taciturn

tac·i·turn·ly, adverbun·tac·i·turn, adjectiveun·tac·i·turn·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for taciturn

No one would confuse him the taciturn, forgetful and vengeful Senate Majority Leader.
Nevada Guv Faces Fans and Foes in Reelection|Lloyd Green|March 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tall and taciturn, he exuded the easy authority of a young man used to money and the deference that came with it.
Doug Kenney: The Odd Comic Genius Behind ‘Animal House’ and National Lampoon|Robert Sam Anson|March 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The exuberant, indefatigable Democrat from Oregon and the dour, taciturn Republican from New Hampshire made an odd couple.
The Senate’s New Taxman Won’t Be Controlled By His Own Party|Linda Killian|February 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But he was also taciturn, rarely betraying his inner thoughts, his friends have said.
Moon Men: The Private Lives of Neil Armstrong and Pals in “Togethersville”|Lily Koppel|September 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST

I became irrational and flunked the tough-guy test, the show-me-the-evidence test, the taciturn Gary Cooper test.
Warren Buffett’s Cancer Decoded|Kent Sepkowitz|April 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
For to all outward appearances he was taciturn, unimaginative, self-willed.
The Loom of Youth|Alec Waugh
But he was taciturn, and rarely spoke even to his own family, and spent on them almost less money than words.
The Love Affairs of Great Musicians, Volume 2|Rupert Hughes
When I went up to the office where I was to file, the door was open and the most taciturn old man sat before a desk.
Letters of a Woman Homesteader|Elinore Pruitt Stewart
But the taciturn Indian Chief coldly declined the polite proposal.
The Romantic Settlement of Lord Selkirk's Colonists|George Bryce
I returned to Engin with my taciturn valet; but he showed no enthusiasm on the subject of Engin.
Confessions of a Young Man|George Moore

British Dictionary definitions for taciturn

taciturn

/ (ˈtæsɪˌtɜːn) /

adjective

habitually silent, reserved, or uncommunicative; not inclined to conversation

Derived forms of taciturn

taciturnity, nountaciturnly, adverb

Word Origin for taciturn

C18: from Latin taciturnus, from tacitus silent, from tacēre to be silent

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

taciturn

adjective

Words related to taciturn

Words nearby taciturn

Origin of taciturn

SYNONYMS FOR taciturn

OTHER WORDS FROM taciturn

Examples from the Web for taciturn

British Dictionary definitions for taciturn

adjective

Derived forms of taciturn

Word Origin for taciturn