Synonyms of reticence

reticence

noun

ˈre-tə-sən(t)s 

as in reluctance

a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something

the publisher's reticence to make content available online for free

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reluctance
• hesitancy
• unwillingness
• hesitance
• doubt
• disinclination
• skepticism
• hesitation
• suspicion
• indecision
• uncertainty
• vacillation
• irresolution
• wavering
• distrust
• faltering
• staggering
• mistrust
• wabbling
• wobbling
• fence-sitting
• incertitude
• shilly-shallying
• misgiving
• distrustfulness
• mistrustfulness
• misdoubt
• uncertainness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• willingness
• inclination
• conviction
• assurance
• certainty
• surety
• certitude
• assuredness
• positiveness
• sureness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of reticence

Born in 1929, the second daughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten and the heiress Edwina Ashley, Lady Pamela knows her way around the architecture of nobility—and how to tightly shut the gates of hereditary reticence. —Good Taste, airmail.news, 31 Aug. 2024

The Golden State Warriors may feel that same reticence with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in their mid-30s. —Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024

Part of that reticence might have stemmed from the prohibition on dunking in the college game when Erving played. —David Aldridge, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024

In his view, the reticence to communicate stems from the luxury industry’s historic focus on perfection in design, quality, finishing and store experience, whereas sustainability is an imperfect, perennial work-in-progress. —Miles Socha, WWD, 25 Nov. 2024