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.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Reticent” when the meaning fits your context: Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; inclined to be quiet and restrained.
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
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
He sat through the entire meeting without saying a word. Not because he had nothing to say — he could feel it all, a fully formed position building in his chest.
He waited. Watching who said what. Who was listening to whom. Where the conversation was actually heading.
When he finally spoke — quietly, near the end — the room reconsidered. Not his words exactly. The weight behind them. The meeting changed direction. He went home and cooked dinner and told nobody.
Questions about this word
What does "Reticent" mean?
Reticent is adjective meaning: Choosing silence as a form of power.. Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; inclined to be quiet and restrained.
Which words express “calm under pressure”?
Reticent — Choosing silence as a form of power.
Where does the word "Reticent" come from?
From Latin reticere — to keep silent (re- 'back' + tacere 'to be silent').