Reticent
adjective /ˈretɪsənt/ — Choosing silence as a form of power.
Definition
Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; inclined to be quiet and restrained.
Beyond the definition
Reticent is often confused with shy, but they're different. Shy people struggle to speak; reticent people choose not to. There's an authority to reticence — the person who says little but means everything they say.
Origin & history
From Latin reticere — to keep silent (re- 'back' + tacere 'to be silent').
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He was reticent by nature — three sentences from him was worth thirty from someone else.
She was reticent about her past, not from shame but from the sense that it was hers.
The most reticent person in the room often has the most considered opinion.
Synonyms
reserved, quiet, uncommunicative, restrained, discreet
Antonyms
forthcoming, voluble, loquacious, outspoken
Related words
- taciturn
- discreet
- understated
- composed
Reticent vs reserved
Reserved describes someone who keeps their feelings and opinions private — held back from full expression. Reticent is more specific: it describes someone who particularly avoids speaking, who chooses silence as the default. You can be reserved and still communicate clearly when necessary; reticent people tend to use words sparingly even then. Reserved is a disposition toward privacy; reticent is a deliberate economy of speech that often carries its own authority.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Person sitting in silent, minimalist room
An adult sits in a minimalist room, hands folded, eyes focused on a distant, blurred garden, choosing silence.
The stillness and choice to remain quiet, even when prompted by a ringing phone, reflect an inclination to be restrained and not reveal one's thoughts or feelings readily.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration