1
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge
the panel decided to investigate the fraud charges against the company, which has always been reticent about its internal operations
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)
her husband is by nature a reticent person, and she resigned herself to that fact long ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reluctant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
understandably, she's reticent about becoming involved with another evangelical religious sect
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reticent
And the company's reticent response suggested the whole thing was news to them.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Biden left office and passed the war over to Trump, who was highly reticent about continuing U.S. involvement.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Arab leaders have demonstrated this new self-confidence by largely embracing the new Syrian government, choosing to look past President Ahmed al-Shara’s terrorist history and coordinating with Erdogan to push an initially reticent Trump administration to embrace Damascus’s leader.
—James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 4 July 2025
The ‘big three’ countries of India, Australia and England have been reticent given that slipping into the lower bracket would scupper their money-making plans, with the trio wanting to play each other more often given the financial incentives.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Biden left office and passed the war over to Trump, who was highly reticent about continuing U.S. involvement.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Arab leaders have demonstrated this new self-confidence by largely embracing the new Syrian government, choosing to look past President Ahmed al-Shara’s terrorist history and coordinating with Erdogan to push an initially reticent Trump administration to embrace Damascus’s leader.
—James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 4 July 2025
The ‘big three’ countries of India, Australia and England have been reticent given that slipping into the lower bracket would scupper their money-making plans, with the trio wanting to play each other more often given the financial incentives.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reticent
Adjective
-
But being silent and withdrawn is certainly not helpful either.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The out-loud goal is to make the playoffs, but the silent aspiration now is to simply avoid another losing season.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Greyhound assigned seating and conflict There’s not widespread awareness of the policy, and some passengers meet with resistance from others who have settled into reserved seats not assigned to them and are reluctant to give them up.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
5 Aug. 2025
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The school will provided ticketed reserved sections for football and basketball.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Though initially reluctant, Ivey relented when Jenkins, 31, promised to stay on the phone with the elder boy during the walk.—
Maia Nehme,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Aug. 2025
-
But the spending package gives affordable housing boosters something to celebrate, even if many in blue California are reluctant to do so publicly.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Gilligan then gave Seehorn the same treatment on the Saul set by offering her the chance to lead his very secretive new sci-fi endeavor for Apple TV+.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Aug. 2025
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Many other aspects of their behavior, diets, and day-to-day lives remain secretive.—
Laura Baisas Aug 14,
Popular Science,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But the whisky never strays too far from its wood-spiced core, with restrained elements of aspen, pine, birch, and cedar wood.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The restrained approach, however, raised a question: Why didn’t the Cubs get another starting pitcher before Thursday’s deadline?—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Experts remain hesitant to pin the blame on tariffs yet, focusing more on labor issues, housing costs and other usual culprits.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
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Many are hesitant, especially corporations that wait for others to launch ventures and hope to acquire the high-potential ones like Google acquired YouTube.—
Dileep Rao,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In a travel landscape where nearly every detail can be planned, controlled, and optimized, a quiet countertrend is emerging—one that celebrates the unknown.—
Ashley Kennedy,
Robb Report,
14 Aug. 2025
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The same quiet consensus building once hailed as an effective hallmark of her leadership is being challenged in new ways by interpersonal conflicts on City Council and critics who want bolder leadership.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
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Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Reticent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reticent. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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