SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
reserved
adjective
Restrained in expressing feelings or in speaking and acting around others.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Restrained in expression
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topReserved concerns limited outward expression. Distant can imply lack of warmth; taciturn focuses on speaking little.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See reserved in use
The reserved volunteer contributed more comfortably in small discussions.
Mei was reserved but attentive, saying little while remembering the names of everyone she met.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license