RESERVED Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'reserved' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of reserved are reticent , secretive , silent , and taciturn . While all these words mean "showing restraint in speaking," reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange. // greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

Q: When could 'reticent' be used to replace 'reserved'?

While the synonyms reticent and reserved are close in meaning, reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs. // was reticent about his plans

Q: When would 'secretive' be a good substitute for 'reserved'?

In some situations, the words secretive and reserved are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'silent' instead of 'reserved'?

The meanings of silent and reserved largely overlap; however, silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed. // the strong, silent type

Q: Where would 'taciturn' be a reasonable alternative to 'reserved'?

While in some cases nearly identical to reserved , taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability. // taciturn villagers

reserved 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈzərvd

Definition of reserved

as in silent

tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) a reserved and shy person who was wrongly thought to be stuck-up until someone finally got into a conversation with her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reserved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of reserve

as in booked

to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use we made sure to reserve a kennel for our dog several months before the start of the family vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in retained

to continue to have in one's possession or power I'm reserving the right to work by myself if you don't do your share of the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dedicated

to keep or intend for a special purpose we must reserve this cup for ceremonial use only

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word reserved distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of reserved are reticent, secretive, silent, and taciturn. While all these words mean "showing restraint in speaking," reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.

greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

When could reticent be used to replace reserved?

While the synonyms reticent and reserved are close in meaning, reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

When would secretive be a good substitute for reserved?

In some situations, the words secretive and reserved are roughly equivalent. However, 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

When is it sensible to use silent instead of reserved?

The meanings of silent and reserved largely overlap; however, silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.

the strong, silent type

Where would taciturn be a reasonable alternative to reserved?

While in some cases nearly identical to reserved, taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.

taciturn villagers

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of reserved

Adjective

Serena’s name was on everyone’s lips, with fans chatting about the American’s chances and journalists jostling for position to get their hands on a reserved media seat. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 Some noted that intense social media scrutiny — heightened by the success of the TV show — may have ultimately become too much for the reserved dancer. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

Verb

The second wave crested with the craft barbecue renaissance of the 2010s, when pitmasters began treating cuts of meat with the reverence white-tablecloth restaurants reserved for seasonal produce. — Charlie Kolodziej, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026 Political conventions are typically massive gatherings reserved for presidential election years, where parties formally nominate their candidates for the general election. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reserved

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reserved

Adjective

And when Cape Verde’s Deroy Duarte evened the score with a right footed shot from a difficult angle at the 59-minute mark, the stunned stadium went silent, minus two small spirited clots of Cape Verde fans in the East end zone seats.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
The flags are saved for periodic retirement ceremonies that involve reciting a script, standing at attention, a moment of silent reflection, and the subsequent burning.

— Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 3 July 2026

Definition of silent

Verb

Roberto Machuca, 32, of the Garden Grove Police Department was arrested Saturday and booked into the Orange County Jail.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Michael Butler, 44, was arrested on July 1 and booked into the Harris County Jail in connection with the death of Martha Avila, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Definition of booked

Verb

For ordinary users, this means more personal information is collected, passed through more systems and retained in more databases, all in the name of preventing crime.

— Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004, at least 80% of the entrance fees paid onsite must be retained and used at the national park where the fees are collected.

— Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Definition of retained

Verb

After surviving a career-ending stroke, the former officer founded The Wounded Blue, the nation's only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to injured and disabled law enforcement officers.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Following his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease in the '90s, Fox has dedicated himself to advocacy and raising funds for research.

— Jonathon Dornbush, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

Definition of dedicated

Adjective

Since joining the winery, Melton has brought a restrained, classical sensibility to wines known for an ability to age.

— Jill Barth, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
The world press was less restrained; the Post, the Daily Mail, the Hindustan Times, and many others ran screaming headlines, accompanied by photographs of the climbers purloined from social media.

— William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Definition of restrained

Verb

If the Declaration announced a legal theory of legitimate government, Wilson devoted much of the remainder of his career to explaining what that theory meant.

— Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Other club sources, however, said Mendoza devoted a lot of energy to making sure Lindor and Soto were on the same page.

— Will Sammon, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of devoted

Browse Nearby Words

reserve

reserved

reservedness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Reserved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reserved. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of reserved

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on reserved

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes