Synonyms of reticence

reticence

noun

ˈre-tə-sən(t)s 

as in reluctance

a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reluctance
• hesitancy
• unwillingness
• hesitance
• doubt
• disinclination
• skepticism
• hesitation
• suspicion
• indecision
• uncertainty
• vacillation
• irresolution
• wavering
• distrust
• faltering
• staggering
• mistrust
• wobbling
• fence-sitting
• incertitude
• shilly-shallying
• misgiving
• distrustfulness
• mistrustfulness
• misdoubt
• uncertainness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• willingness
• inclination
• conviction
• assurance
• certainty
• surety
• certitude
• assuredness
• positiveness
• sureness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of reticence

Dems are using the disparity to press Jackson on his debate reticence. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 2026

That new reticence signifies a change from when she was paid to share her life on TV. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026

At the library, questions about how the case split the town were greeted with polite reticence. — Glenn Rice, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

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