SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
reticent
adjective
Reluctant to speak freely or reveal one's thoughts.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Unwilling to speak freely
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topReticent focuses on limited speech or disclosure. Secretive can imply deliberate concealment, while self-effacing concerns avoiding attention.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See reticent in use
The usually reticent designer spoke eagerly about her new project.
The speaker was reticent on the subject of his accomplishments.
1 more example
The poet was more reticent about discussing the personal events behind the work.
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