Reticent

Practice This Word

Inclined to keep one's thoughts and feelings to oneself; reserved and quiet in speech.

adjective

Reticent

Inclined to keep one's thoughts and feelings to oneself; reserved and quiet in speech.

adjective

💡

Imagine This

Picture a shy student in a lively classroom who speaks only in brief, guarded phrases and avoids eye contact, even when the teacher asks questions.

🔊

Sounds Like

RET-ih-suhnt

👀

Looks Like

looks similar to reluctant in nuance; both imply holding back, but reticent specifically refers to speaking

📝

Remember This

The noun form is 'reticence'. The root retic- comes from Latin reticere, meaning to be silent or to hold back.

📚

Other Forms

reticencenoun

reticentlyadverb

🔗

Connect With

taciturn, reserved, discreet, aloof

📌

Note

Do not confuse with 'reluctant' (hesitant to act) or 'secretive' (concealing information). Reticent is about speaking or sharing thoughts, not about avoidance in general.

🧠

Study Deeper

Examples

She was reticent about her personal life, offering only a few guarded details.
The witness remained reticent, answering with minimal information under cross-examination.

Synonyms

taciturnreservedwithdrawndiffidentquiet

Antonyms

talkativegarrulousforthcoming

Etymology

From Latin reticent-, reticens, from reticere 'to be silent' (re- 'back' + tacere 'to be silent').

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: RETI-CENT reminds you that speaking is difficult for someone who ties their tongue; 'RE-TIE-SENT' = keep silent instead of telling.