First Known Use: circa 1834
Dictionary
reticent
adjective ret·i·cent \ˈre-tə-sənt\
: not willing to tell people about things
Full Definition of RETICENT
1
: inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech : reserved
2
: restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance <the room has an aspect of reticent dignity — A. N. Whitehead>
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Examples of RETICENT
- … his friends and associates are conspicuously reticent to discuss him in public. —Martin Flanagan, Manchester Guardian Weekly, 29 Dec. 1991
- … two or three rather reticent abstract paintings. —Jay Jacobs, Gourmet, January 1979
- An extremely reticent man, Morris does not like to talk about his experience in personal terms. —Helen Dudar, New York Times Magazine, 30 Oct. 1977
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Origin of RETICENT
Latin reticent-, reticens, present participle of reticēre to keep silent, from re- + tacēre to be silent — more at tacit
Related to RETICENT
- Synonyms
- close, closemouthed, dark, secretive, tight-mouthed, uncommunicative
- Antonyms
- communicative, open
Synonym Discussion of RETICENT
silent, taciturn, reticent, reserved, secretive mean showing restraint in speaking. silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed <the strong, silent type>. taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability <taciturn villagers>. reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs <was reticent about his plans>. reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange <greetings were brief, formal, and reserved>. 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>.
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