reticent

adjective

ret·​i·​cent ˈre-tə-sənt 

1

: inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech : reserved

2

: restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance

the room has an aspect of reticent dignity

—A. N. Whitehead

3

: reluctant

reticently adverb

Did you know?

The History of Reticent Is Less Than 200 Years Old

We hate to break it to the language sticklers among us, but use of reticent as a synonym of reluctant—though it veers away from the word’s Latin origins in the verb reticēre, meaning “to keep silent”—is well established, and there is no reason to be reticent about employing it. In fact, reticent took on its “reluctant” sense a mere 50 years after first appearing in English in the early 19th century with the meaning “inclined to be silent or uncommunicative.” Though brows may furrow and lips may purse, the development of reticent’s newer meaning has some logic to it: English speakers first used reticent synonymously with reluctant when the context was speech, as in “he was reticent to talk about his past,” keeping the word close to its “silent” beginnings. Eventually, however, exclusive association with speech was abandoned, and one can now be reticent to do anything, even if it’s to admit that language is not immutable.

Synonyms

• close
• closemouthed
• dark
• secretive
• tight-mouthed
• uncommunicative

Choose the Right Synonym for reticent

silent, taciturn, reticent, reserved, secretive mean showing restraint in speaking.

silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.

the strong, silent type

taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.

taciturn villagers

reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.

greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal.

the secretive research and development division

Examples of reticent in a Sentence

… his friends and associates are conspicuously reticent to discuss him in public. —Martin Flanagan, Manchester Guardian Weekly, 29 Dec. 1991

… two or three rather reticent abstract paintings. —Jay Jacobs, Gourmet, January 1979

An extremely reticent man, Morris does not like to talk about his experience in personal terms. —Helen Dudar, New York Times Magazine, 30 Oct. 1977

the panel decided to investigate the fraud charges against the company, which has always been reticent about its internal operations

her husband is by nature a reticent person, and she resigned herself to that fact long ago

Recent Examples on the Web

As the Pumpkins’ album sales steadily declined with each new release, a cautious Virgin Records became reticent to indulge Corgan, first by rejecting a longer double CD version of Machina/The Machines of God and then declining to release the leftover songs as its own sequel album. —Al Shipley, SPIN, 17 Aug. 2024

The Bottom Line CPAs and wealth advisers may be reticent or even prohibited from helping advise you on the CTA because of their risking UPL, the unauthorized practice of law. —Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024

The species, while known, was so reticent or rare that it was only spotted around 20 times prior. —Ashley Balzer Vigil, Discover Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024

Woo, an advocate for the Chinatown-International District, has been more reticent about raising tax revenue to help solve the city's budget shortfall. —Melissa Santos, Axios, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin reticent-, reticens, present participle of reticēre to keep silent, from re- + tacēre to be silent — more at tacit

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

reticent

adjective

ret·​i·​cent ˈret-ə-sənt 

1

: tending not to talk or give out information

2

: quiet in tone or appearance

3

: reluctant

reticently adverb