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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reticent
In the past, Wintour has seemed reticent to discuss it all.
—
Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
And when at 1587 Prime, Mahomes won’t be reticent about asking for ketchup.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Despite constant comments about how Kafka’s stories spoke to the public, Holland is reticent to illustrate any specifics.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
In response to such moves across science agencies, hundreds of EPA, NASA, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation staffers have signed on to public letters of dissent, rare rebukes from traditionally reticent federal employees.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
And when at 1587 Prime, Mahomes won’t be reticent about asking for ketchup.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Despite constant comments about how Kafka’s stories spoke to the public, Holland is reticent to illustrate any specifics.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
In response to such moves across science agencies, hundreds of EPA, NASA, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation staffers have signed on to public letters of dissent, rare rebukes from traditionally reticent federal employees.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reticent
Adjective
-
The red agate worn by his mother reflects silent compassion, and the pearl accents on the Wulu pendant evoke the gentle passage of time.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Burnett was content to mine references from her own Depression-era youth; her famous maid character, the Charwoman, who became something of a show mascot, harked back to Chaplin’s Little Tramp, wearing a rumpled outfit and performing silent reveries.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The film shows the unspoken love and care expressed by gestures among the emotionally more reserved Chinese families, while in the film, the Qeelin jewelry becomes part of that special moment with auspicious meanings.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Top with reserved sausage, corn, and tomatoes.—
Liz Mervosh,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The callow striver Redmond Barry is played by 1970s heartthrob Ryan O’Neal, in one of his best performances, a reluctant conscript in the British army after leaving his Irish home in disgrace.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
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Still, some Republican lawmakers said Trump may be reluctant to tap a policymaker previously nominated by a Democrat.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The jet has already undergone secretive prototype testing.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Sep. 2025
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The secretive acts of Weyland-Yutani, the megacorporation that is apparently involved in everything in the universe, has fueled countless Alien stories.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In the after-hours, the black faille number styled with a silky lime-green tank top was at once restrained and opulent, just great for a night out.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
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In practice, despite his rhetoric, Israel’s longest serving prime minister’s security policy was widely seen as cautious and relatively restrained, even derided as cowardly by political rivals, who also mocked his inability to make decisive moves.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Season one ended on a cliffhanger as Joanne was hesitant to convert to Judaism, despite Noah’s promotion to head rabbi.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
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The Santa Clara County Office of Education and the Santa Clara County Board of Education co-sponsored the bill and said more than 165,000 students in the county live in a mixed-immigration status household and many families live in fear or are hesitant to sent their children to school.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Britani, who has been all too quiet this whole time, sees an opening to make it about her, and thank god for that.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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Tom Willander Willander had a quiet showing at prospect camp and training camp, then debuted with two sensational preseason performances against the Seattle Kraken and the Calgary Flames.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Free speech covers the jokes, the satire, the parodies—even the dumb, crass, or offensive ones.—
Lizz Winstead,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
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On the flipside, Kimmel, like everyone else with a boss, is not protected against saying dumb stuff and getting fired.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reticent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reticent. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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