undemonstrative

American

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

adjective

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

Synonyms:

impassive, unresponsive, shy, reserved

undemonstrative British

/ ˌʌndɪˈmɒnstrətɪv /

adjective

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

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

Bush was resolutely undemonstrative, drilled from childhood to avoid bragging, self-satisfaction or, worst of all, self-aggrandizement.

From Washington Post • Jun. 11, 2018

The unrestrained life we had led made me believe that my new friends would be undemonstrative about my leaving.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023