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

The business is, and has always been, a dodgy boondoggle; not for nothing were the old-money WASPs at the East Coast banks reticent to put capital behind fledgling Hollywood. —Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

His first foray into retail for the brand was a pop-up in London in 2008, and many British customers were reticent about the price point, even though the product was wholly made in England. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2025

Hunter is understandably reticent to discuss the video’s aftermath, preferring to focus on the singer himself. —Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025

Steve Tsang, director of SOAS University of London's China Institute, told Monday the statement showed that Beijing is no longer reticent in using its rare earths to assert itself. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 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

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

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