reticent

adjective

ˈre-tə-sənt How to pronounce reticent (audio)
Definition of reticentnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word reticent distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of reticent are reserved, secretive, silent, and taciturn. While all these words mean "showing restraint in speaking," reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

In what contexts can reserved take the place of reticent?

The words reserved and reticent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 would secretive be a good substitute for reticent?

The words secretive and reticent can be used in similar contexts, but 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 might silent be a better fit than reticent?

The meanings of silent and reticent 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 reticent?

Although the words taciturn and reticent have much in common, 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 reticent Trump was notably out of character throughout his stay here, deferential to his host, marveling at displays of Chinese power and reticent to speak with the press. — Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026 These makers are much more reticent about the risks of blurring the once fine line between browsing sites and asking a large language model a question or instructing it to take potentially sensitive actions. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026 The concierge takes responsibility for all the aspects of cross-selling that customer-facing staff may be reticent to undertake, such as conversion tracking and knowing all the key internal contacts. — Marty Dauer, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 While Haldane has supported the principle, ex-Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill is more reticent. — Philip Aldrick, Fortune, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for reticent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reticent
  1. silent
  2. reserved
  3. reluctant
  4. secretive
  5. restrained
  6. hesitant
  7. quiet
  8. dumb
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
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
  • The canopy area featured reserved seating that was blocked off with more seats for fans to sit and watch the game in the shade.
    — Cal Phillips June 30, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026
Definition of reserved
Adjective
  • The dimension that does the most good is the one leaders are most reluctant to give, because choice costs authority while enjoyment costs only money.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Last week, sources told THR that studios were reluctant to pick up the film for a variety of reasons, including political concerns.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
Definition of reluctant
Adjective
  • Swift and Kelce have been secretive about the guest list itself, and police have been advised to expect large crowds and paparazzi outside, according to the source.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • Opponents have criticized the project as the brainchild of secretive billionaires who bought up land via a shell company and tried to influence the state for support by hiring lobbyists close to the governor.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of secretive
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
Adjective
  • When team members seem disconnected, less motivated or hesitant to contribute, leaders need to look beyond surface-level symptoms and determine what’s really standing in the way of stronger participation and performance.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Some delegates were hesitant, but a committee was appointed to draft the document.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 July 2026
Definition of hesitant
Adjective
  • What was once a quiet corner of the terminal – your reward for loyalty or a hefty annual fee – has turned into a cafeteria for the masses.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Rather than succumb to the misery of its subject matter, Union County is about the quiet, tedious, and remarkable work that is getting and staying sober — the final product a testament to all that can be achieved.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 1 July 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • The State’s humor is an interesting mixture of extremely dumb and self-aware.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 5 July 2026
  • Mayhem comes to a coastal New England town in the form of a killer shark who hunts anybody dumb enough to get in the water.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of dumb

Browse Nearby Words

reticency
reticent
retinue
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Reticent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reticent. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on reticent

Nglish: Translation of reticent for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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 (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

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
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All