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Synonyms

uncommunicative

American  
[uhn-kuh-myoo-ni-kuh-tiv, -kay-tiv] / ˌʌn kəˈmju nɪ kə tɪv, -ˌkeɪ tɪv /

adjective

  1. not inclined to talk or disclose information; reserved; taciturn.

    Synonyms:
    shy, retiring, withdrawn, reticent

uncommunicative British  
/ ˌʌnkəˈmjuːnɪkətɪv /

adjective

  1. disinclined to talk or give information or opinions

"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

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of uncommunicative

First recorded in 1685–95; un- 1 + communicative


Explanation

Hello? Is anyone reading this? Please respond. Well, it seems that you’re uncommunicative, and you’re not willing to talk for whatever reason. How lonely. Someone who is uncommunicative has trouble communicating. Maybe they’re tired or grumpy, or maybe their cell phone battery died. The Latin adjective for "shared" is a root word, and no matter why, an uncommunicative person won’t share much, maybe only a few words, sometimes no words at all. You can also say that a book is uncommunicative if it’s very confusing and doesn’t make sense to you. Or you can just stop reading.

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Vocabulary lists containing uncommunicative

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.

See Examples For:

“We were extremely inconsiderate, insular and uncommunicative with each other that things like that always spilled on the sidelines,” the drummer said on the podcast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

Analyzing the aquatically loquacious may also give us clues about whether midbrain injuries in humans may be linked to a person being mute or uncommunicative, according to Bass.

From Salon ● Jan. 8, 2024

He suggested that this research may help us understand how a malfunctioning human midbrain may render a person uncommunicative or mute.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 3, 2024

Scott Rosnov, another passenger, told Business Insider that the flight was delayed due to an air conditioning malfunction and that the flight crew was uncommunicative.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 10, 2023

He would not reveal his present address in the city, and remained uncommunicative concerning any information that he might be able to furnish this office.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

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