RETICENCE Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

reticence

noun

ˈre-tə-sən(t)s

Definition of reticence

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

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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 reticence That new reticence signifies a change from when she was paid to share her life on TV. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026 At the library, questions about how the case split the town were greeted with polite reticence. — Glenn Rice, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 That reticence led to calls from the city council for transparency, with the handful of alders who opposed the 2008 deal demanding details before anything moved forward. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026 But as Obama ran into the realities of governing, and the groups experienced the disappointment of his Administration’s compromises on issues such as health care and climate change, their reticence waned. — Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reticence

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reticence

reluctance

Noun

But if his account of Pichai’s reluctance is accurate, an entire ocean may be one step too far for Google.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Frustration is also growing over what is seen as Haitian authorities’ reluctance to get their house in order, from tackling corruption to fixing its judiciary.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of reluctance

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rethought

reticence

reticency

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“Reticence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reticence. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of reticence

noun

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