Synonym Chooser

How is the word secretive distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of secretive are reserved, reticent, silent, and taciturn. While all these words mean "showing restraint in speaking," 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 is it sensible to use reserved instead of secretive?

While in some cases nearly identical to secretive, 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 can reticent be used instead of secretive?

The words reticent and secretive can be used in similar contexts, but reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

When could silent be used to replace secretive?

The meanings of silent and secretive 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 secretive?

The synonyms taciturn and secretive are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 secretive Afshar was the subject of an internal investigation at Tesla in 2022, Bloomberg reported, which had focused on his orders of hard-to-get construction materials, including a special kind of glass for a secretive project for Musk. Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 26 June 2025 Hobbs was eventually rehired through another secretive process as a parent liaison and then the board’s chief of staff before again being dismissed with a six-figure severance package. Jay Steiger, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025 Indeed, a central question surrounding the new resort is if one of the world’s most secretive and repressive countries is prepared to make more of a new foray into international tourism, potentially adding to its foreign cash reserves and prestige. Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 26 June 2025 The drama all unfolded in the secretive Office of Municipal Services Assessment, a unit created by Mayor Adams to evaluate the performance of city agencies that operated out of 375 Pearl St. behind police headquarters. Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for secretive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secretive
Adjective
  • Thus far, however, Tesla’s board has remained largely silent throughout Musk’s period of political activity.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 7 July 2025
  • With 66 distinct incidents logged between January and late June, the state has had reports of an array of mysterious aerial objects, ranging from glowing orbs and silent triangles to fast-moving disks and shape-shifting lights.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Pulse Picks Yes, the MLB trade deadline could be quiet … but there are some big names that could move, too.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 9 July 2025
  • Both headphones are astonishingly quiet, virtually eliminating lower drone sounds, cutting higher frequency noises like key clicks, and even erasing piercing sounds like dogs barking with a bit of music.
    Ryan Waniata, Wired News, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2025
  • Bacon has served Nebraska in Congress since 2017, winning multiple competitive races in the state's 2nd Congressional District, an area that has seen increasingly close contests between Republicans and Democrats in recent election cycles.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • In New York, however, some local pols weren’t so reticent.
    Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025
  • Why have so many been so reticent about adding this asset class to portfolios?
    Chris Carosa, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Adjective
  • Some supporters felt their club had become too corporate, too cold and too uncommunicative.
    Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Often, a less qualified candidate who displays high energy and eagerness can outshine a more qualified individual who appears disinterested and uncommunicative.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • There’s also the closemouthed, menacing technician who lives on a houseboat and raises snakes; the actress first hired for the show’s leading part who dropped out of the role before shooting began; and the unknown burglar who fled the frightened player’s house.
    Tom Nolan, WSJ, 23 Dec. 2022
  • Hutton’s gaptoothed smile replaced the closemouthed gaze and white eyeliner of Vogue models of the 1960s.
    Washington Post, Washington Post, 25 Dec. 2021
Adjective
  • Look for bronze or dark spots on the foliage or prominent purple veins.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 July 2025
  • Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Secretive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secretive. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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