taciturn

1 of 2

adjective

tac·​i·​turn ˈta-sə-ˌtərn 

: temperamentally disinclined to talk

taciturnity

ˌta-sə-ˈtər-nə-tē 

noun

taciturnity

2 of 2

noun

tac·​i·​tur·​ni·​ty

-ətē, 

-i

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being taciturn:

a

: inclination to spare, curt, or laconic speech : reticence

the taciturnity and the short answers which gave so much offense

—T. B. Macaulay

b

: lack of expressiveness : reserve

tight-lipped they endure their fates and we are the losers from their numb taciturnity

—Anthony Quinton

2

Scots law

a

: such failure to assert a legal right as implies that there has been satisfaction or abandonment of it

b

: the plea of mora and taciturnity setting up such failure

Did you know?

How should you use taciturn?

Even if you consider yourself a person of few words, taciturn is a good one to keep in your pocket, if for no other reason than it’s an efficient way to describe your own particular deportment. While ramblers ramble and babblers babble, the taciturn among us turn things down a notch, preferring to keep mum rather than add their voices to the verbal hubbub. Taciturn traces back ultimately to the Latin verb tacēre, meaning “to be silent.” While English users were quicker to adopt other tacēre descendants such as the adjective tacit (“expressed without words” or “implied”) in the 1600s and even the noun taciturnity in the 1400s, taciturn wasn’t on anyone’s lips until the 1700s.

Synonyms of taciturn

Adjective

• silent
• reserved
• dumb
• restrained

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of taciturn in a Sentence

Adjective

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

a somewhat taciturn young man

a taciturn man, he almost never initiates a conversation

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The club took him in and allowed the shy, taciturn boy to develop into one of Italian football’s most celebrated leaders. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Hollywood will need some zealous promotion to sell its franchise-heavy summer movie season but also some hard work from taciturn filmmakers. —Peter Bart, Deadline, 22 May 2026

But his shy, taciturn sisters had somehow surpassed him. —Literary Hub, 12 May 2026

And Belichick, known for being extremely press-shy and taciturn, has returned the favor by showing his affection for her on social media and beyond. —Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Middle English taciturnite, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French taciturnité, from Latin taciturnitat-, taciturnitas, from taciturnus + -itat-, -itas -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

1734, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for taciturn

• overturn
• unconcern
• adjourn
• concern
• decern
• discern
• downturn
• extern
• heartburn
• interne
• nocturne
• return

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Kids Definition

taciturn

adjective

tac·​i·​turn ˈtas-ə-ˌtərn 

: tending to not speak

taciturnity

ˌtas-ə-ˈtər-nət-ē 

noun

taciturnly

ˈtas-ə-ˌtərn-lē

adverb