How to Use reticent in a Sentence

reticent

adjective
  • As such, many are reticent to spend on nonessentials.
    — Aaron Gregg, Arkansas Online, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Matt can chat about his bond with his dad for hours, but Dave seems more reticent.
    — Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 28 Aug. 2020
  • Red-cheeked and reticent, the duo shook their heads and took their sheepish leave.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Kip, who had good size and weight, was not so reticent and made more than a dozen retrieves.
    — John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 7 May 2018
  • And at least one customer was a little reticent to come back.
    — Lindsey Bahr, USA TODAY, 20 Aug. 2020
  • Teams could be reticent to sign many long-term deals, given pending changes.
    — Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 5 Nov. 2025
  • So far, leaders have been reticent to tap reserves.
    — ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
  • But Lloyd has long been much more reticent to speak out on social issues.
    — New York Times, 7 Oct. 2021
  • Why have so many been so reticent about adding this asset class to portfolios?
    — Chris Carosa, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
  • Supporters view it as a way to push towns that have been reticent to build more housing to do so.
    — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2024
  • The Senate has been much more reticent to take up the matter.
    — Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 7 Dec. 2025
  • Though reticent to talk to us, our insider agreed to chat on the grounds of strict anonymity.
    — Chuck Tannert, Popular Mechanics, 2 July 2018
  • In the past, Wintour has seemed reticent to discuss it all.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Lan Tran, too, is reticent about meeting up with her estranged child.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2024
  • Maybe Preller was reticent to dip into his club’s prospect pool to make a trade for a pitcher.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021
  • Those who advocate for a reckoning weren't as reticent to go on the record.
    — Amber Hunt, Cincinnati.com, 18 June 2020
  • Some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been reticent to change filibuster rules.
    — Alejandro De La Garza, Time, 11 Aug. 2019
  • The truth is, a lot of people were reticent about doing a musical.
    — Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Dec. 2022
  • Senate Democrats also seem reticent to support the idea of a fourth check.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2021
  • Other experts have been more reticent in their response to the painting.
    — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 17 May 2018
  • Behind them, the forest rose up, dense and inscrutable, reticent to divulge its life.
    — Jessica Camille Aguirre, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025
  • 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
  • And the fear of missing out may even inspire other more reticent returners to join them.
    — David Morel, Forbes, 12 May 2021
  • Not all directors are so reticent.
    — Thomas Page, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Often, menace is not reticent to show itself.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Sometimes the different treats at the vet's office are enough to entice a reticent dog.
    — Jennifer Nelson, Southern Living, 2 June 2021
  • In the past, the actress was reticent to speak out about such controversial topics.
    — Priya Rao, Marie Claire, 25 Jan. 2021
  • That kind of prejudice is enough to make any introvert become more reticent.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
  • Rockies owner Dick Monfort has been reticent to make changes over the years.
    — John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • The other three sheriffs were more reticent about the deployment.
    — Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reticent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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