1
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge
the panel decided to investigate the fraud charges against the company, which has always been reticent about its internal operations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)
her husband is by nature a reticent person, and she resigned herself to that fact long ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reluctant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
understandably, she's reticent about becoming involved with another evangelical religious sect
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reticent
The outraged reactions only intensified, including claims that teams would be reticent to do business with the Ravens in the future.
—
Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Typically, the military services are reticent to offer details about members of the special forces and take measures to keep their identities secret.
—Hallie Golden, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
This is not unexpected because, as OutKick reported previously, Bain was similarly reticent about answering questions about the incident for multiple teams at the NFL combine.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Under the Zagros Mountains outside Shiraz, a family of Iranian nomads and their reticent sons investigate the disappearance of twelve sheep while navigating their flock through the modern city of poets in this dreamy documentary.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Typically, the military services are reticent to offer details about members of the special forces and take measures to keep their identities secret.
—Hallie Golden, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
This is not unexpected because, as OutKick reported previously, Bain was similarly reticent about answering questions about the incident for multiple teams at the NFL combine.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Under the Zagros Mountains outside Shiraz, a family of Iranian nomads and their reticent sons investigate the disappearance of twelve sheep while navigating their flock through the modern city of poets in this dreamy documentary.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reticent
Adjective
-
Misael eating meat alone, cutting up pieces with an enormous knife while barely lit by the flames in front of him, and, sporadically, almost-silent lightning bursts in the distant background.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
-
My cancer was so silent that two gynecologists hadn’t considered it as a possible diagnosis, and at least one radiologist had entirely missed my tumor—as wide as a peach and as long as my hand.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Sprinkle with the reserved hazelnuts and the parsley, and drizzle with the pul biber oil.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
16 May 2026
-
The audiences there were more reserved and showed their appreciation at the end.—
Zama Magudulela,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
After successes in Hampshire, Dorset and Devon, Cornwall seemed the obvious next opening but the couple were reluctant.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
By and large, Republicans were also reluctant to weigh in on Netanyahu’s proposal, and several downplayed the impact in interviews with the Washington Examiner.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Schneider plays David, a reticent young man with the soulful-hobo air of a Beat poet, who makes a living as an events photographer but whose private passion is a secretive lifelong project, inherited from his father, documenting the changing Parisian suburbs.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
18 May 2026
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Possible sharing of nuclear secrets The claim that North Korea was the likely recipient of the two reactors allegedly aboard the ship comes after the secretive totalitarian regime released images in December 2025 of its first nuclear submarine.—
Pau Mosquera,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Puerto Rican rum production emphasizes column distillation and filtration, yielding a cleaner, lighter, and more restrained profile than many heavier Caribbean styles.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
It was described by critics as psychologically uneasy and emotionally claustrophobic, with Keough serving as the restrained emotional center of the film.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Yet in an industry where technological change is often forced on hesitant doctors by medical administrators, few services have seen such rapid adoption as OpenEvidence.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
-
The Mets have been hesitant to sign the 24-year-old Alvarez to a long-term contract in part because of injuries, and in part because of his inconsistent play, some of which is likely a result of injuries.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Biltmore is polished, quiet, and—despite its size—manages not to feel at all intimidating.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
My occupations have given me a happy, humble, quiet life, but always nagging in the back of my mind has been a case of impostor syndrome.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, one of my chief complaints about some contemporary thrillers is the feeling that characters are required to do dumb stuff by the unseen hand of the author, just so more crazy twists can happen.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
-
But Williamson isn’t usually dumb.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reticent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reticent. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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