reticence

noun

ret·​i·​cence ˈre-tə-sən(t)s 

1

: the quality or state of being reticent : reserve, restraint

2

: an instance of being reticent

3

: reluctance sense 1

Synonyms of reticence

• reluctance

Examples of reticence in a Sentence

the publisher's reticence to make content available online for free

Recent Examples on the Web

That reticence led to calls from the city council for transparency, with the handful of alders who opposed the 2008 deal demanding details before anything moved forward. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

The story centers on an impoverished young miner living a muted existence in a remote town where emotional reticence is the norm among men. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

But as Obama ran into the realities of governing, and the groups experienced the disappointment of his Administration’s compromises on issues such as health care and climate change, their reticence waned. — Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026

Tóibín practises a sustained reticence, even as fate strikes so cruelly as to give this story an absurdist edge. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

reticence

noun

ret·​i·​cence ˈret-ə-sən(t)s 

1

: the quality or state of being reticent

a witness's reticence that was unhelpful to police

2

: an instance of being reticent

3

: reluctance