taciturn

adjective tac·i·turn \ˈta-sə-ˌtərn\

: tending to be quiet : not speaking frequently

Full Definition of TACITURN

: temperamentally disinclined to talk

— tac·i·tur·ni·ty \ˌta-sə-ˈtər-nə-tē\ noun

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Examples of TACITURN

I went on speech strike … remaining defiantly taciturn through a procession of speech therapists and psychotherapists, verbalizing only to the gardener and swearing him to silence. —Simon Schama, New Republic, 22 July 2002
The pipe-smoking Malcolm Cowley … though a faithful fellow-traveller, was too taciturn usually to show his hand. —Mary McCarthy, Granta 27, Summer 1989
She was a small, taut, pale, wiry London girl, alarmingly taciturn, demon at basketball (at which she captained us) … —Elizabeth Bowen, The Mulberry Tree, 1986
When he got to the substation that night, this private taciturn fellow had to spill his guts. If he didn't tell somebody, he might blow like a land mine. —Joseph Wambaugh, Lines and Shadows, 1984
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Origin of TACITURN

French or Latin; French taciturne, from Middle French, from Latin taciturnus, from tacitus (see tacit)

First Known Use: 1734

Related to TACITURN

Synonyms: closemouthed, dumb, laconic, reserved, reticent, silent, tight-lipped, uncommunicative

Antonyms: blabby, chatty, communicative, conversational, gabby, garrulous, loquacious, motormouthed, mouthy, talkative, talky, unreserved

Synonym Discussion of TACITURN

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>.

Rhymes with TACITURN

about-turn, Comintern, in return, on the turn, out of turn, overturn, slash-and-burn, to a turn, unconcern

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Nglish: Translation of "taciturn" for Spanish speakers

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