reticent

adjective

ret·​i·​cent ˈre-tə-sənt 

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

3

: reluctant

reticently adverb

Did you know?

The History of Reticent Is Less Than 200 Years Old

We hate to break it to the language sticklers among us, but use of reticent as a synonym of reluctant—though it veers away from the word’s Latin origins in the verb reticēre, meaning “to keep silent”—is well established, and there is no reason to be reticent about employing it. In fact, reticent took on its “reluctant” sense a mere 50 years after first appearing in English in the early 19th century with the meaning “inclined to be silent or uncommunicative.” Though brows may furrow and lips may purse, the development of reticent’s newer meaning has some logic to it: English speakers first used reticent synonymously with reluctant when the context was speech, as in “he was reticent to talk about his past,” keeping the word close to its “silent” beginnings. Eventually, however, exclusive association with speech was abandoned, and one can now be reticent to do anything, even if it’s to admit that language is not immutable.

Synonyms

• silent
• secretive
• quiet
• close
• uncommunicative
• prudent
• closemouthed

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of reticent in a Sentence

… 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

the panel decided to investigate the fraud charges against the company, which has always been reticent about its internal operations

her husband is by nature a reticent person, and she resigned herself to that fact long ago

Recent Examples on the Web

Harry and Meghan have always been reticent to let the public get a proper look at their children (Harry, especially, is not a fan of invasive press, being the son of Princess Diana and all), so this is maybe a compromise? —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 June 2025

State and local officials were reticent to weigh in on what the mortgage sale could mean for the Fiserv deal. —Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025

Among the three, the Raptors have an accurate but reticent 3-point shooter (Ingram), an average shooter at OK frequency (Barrett) and a bad one (Barnes). —Eric Koreen, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025

Short of a large-scale threat to its homeland or the collapse of its military, a nuclear-armed state will likely remain reticent to deploy nuclear weapons against a nonnuclear rival. —Paul Avey, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin reticent-, reticens, present participle of reticēre to keep silent, from re- + tacēre to be silent — more at tacit

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

reticent

adjective

ret·​i·​cent ˈret-ə-sənt 

1

: tending not to talk or give out information

2

: quiet in tone or appearance

3

: reluctant

reticently adverb