taciturn

adjective

tac·​i·​turn ˈta-sə-ˌtərn 

: temperamentally disinclined to talk

taciturnity

ˌta-sə-ˈtər-nə-tē 

noun

Did you know?

How should you use taciturn?

Even if you consider yourself a person of few words, taciturn is a good one to keep in your pocket, if for no other reason than it’s an efficient way to describe your own particular deportment. While ramblers ramble and babblers babble, the taciturn among us turn things down a notch, preferring to keep mum rather than add their voices to the verbal hubbub. Taciturn traces back ultimately to the Latin verb tacēre, meaning “to be silent.” While English users were quicker to adopt other tacēre descendants such as the adjective tacit (“expressed without words” or “implied”) in the 1600s and even the noun taciturnity in the 1400s, taciturn wasn’t on anyone’s lips until the 1700s.

Synonyms

• closemouthed
• dumb
• laconic
• reserved
• reticent
• silent
• tight-lipped
• uncommunicative

Choose the Right Synonym for taciturn

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 taciturn in a Sentence

I went on speech strike … remaining defiantly taciturn through a procession of speech therapists and psychotherapists, verbalizing only to the gardener and swearing him to silence. —Simon Schama, New Republic, 22 July 2002

The pipe-smoking Malcolm Cowley … though a faithful fellow-traveller, was too taciturn usually to show his hand. —Mary McCarthy, Granta 27, Summer 1989

She was a small, taut, pale, wiry London girl, alarmingly taciturn, demon at basketball (at which she captained us) … —Elizabeth Bowen, The Mulberry Tree, 1986

When he got to the substation that night, this private taciturn fellow had to spill his guts. If he didn't tell somebody, he might blow like a land mine. —Joseph Wambaugh, Lines and Shadows, 1984

a somewhat taciturn young man

a taciturn man, he almost never initiates a conversation

Recent Examples on the Web

Although so highly esteemed, the notoriously taciturn director would often frustrate his colleagues by his reticence to explain his directorial intentions. —Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025

After all, it’s been days since she’s had a morsel, and she’s got a taciturn little lion hunter in the oven! —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 23 Mar. 2025

There’s the driver (Mitchell Cole), a taciturn dude with a thick Southern accent who spent some time in the military. —Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 7 Mar. 2025

Gray Alys recruits the taciturn Boyce to be her guide through the treacherous region. —Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French or Latin; French taciturne, from Middle French, from Latin taciturnus, from tacitus — see tacit

First Known Use

1734, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for taciturn

• overturn
• unconcern
• adjourn
• concern
• decern
• discern
• downturn
• extern
• heartburn
• interne
• nocturne
• return

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

taciturn

adjective

tac·​i·​turn ˈtas-ə-ˌtərn 

: tending to not speak

taciturnity

ˌtas-ə-ˈtər-nət-ē 

noun

taciturnly

ˈtas-ə-ˌtərn-lē

adverb