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Synonyms

undemonstrative

American  
[uhn-duh-mon-struh-tiv] / ˌʌn dəˈmɒn strə tɪv /

adjective

  1. not given to open exhibition or expression of emotion, especially of affection.

    Synonyms:
    impassive, unresponsive, shy, reserved
undemonstrative British  
/ ˌʌndɪˈmɒnstrətɪv /

adjective

  1. tending not to show the feelings; of a reserved nature

"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

  • undemonstratively adverb
  • undemonstrativeness noun

Etymology

Origin of undemonstrative

First recorded in 1840–50; un- 1 + demonstrative

Vocabulary lists containing undemonstrative

30 GRE Words Beginning with "T" "U" "V" and "W"

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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.

She is as warm and outgoing as he is taciturn and undemonstrative.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

A four-time All-Star at age 29, is publicly undemonstrative.

From Washington Times • Nov. 1, 2023

Fletcher and Bayliss may have been just as undemonstrative - and Flower had a comparably successful playing career - but none had McCullum's star quality.

From BBC • May 31, 2022

The Tufan Derince Trio was decidedly undemonstrative onstage, but its set of Kurdish wedding music was a whirlwind.

From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2020

During all of her girlhood the only respite Nel had had from her stem and undemonstrative parents was Sula.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

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.