reticent

adjective
UK: /ˈretɪsənt/
US: /ˈretɪsənt/

  1. Unwilling to speak about your thoughts or feelings; reserved or quiet.

    1. He was reticent about his past.
    2. She's usually reticent, but today she expressed her feelings openly during the meeting.

  2. Characterized by a reluctance to draw attention to yourself or your actions; taciturn.

    1. The students were reticent to ask questions.
    2. Despite the pressure, the witness remained reticent, offering only brief responses to the lawyer's probing questions.

Synonyms

uncommunicative taciturn silent restrained reserved

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "reticent" in English means: Unwilling to speak about your thoughts or feelings; reserved or quiet., Characterized by a reluctance to draw attention to yourself or your actions; taciturn..

The phonetic transcription of "reticent" is /ˈretɪsənt/ in British English and /ˈretɪsənt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "reticent": uncommunicative, taciturn, silent, restrained, reserved.

Example usage of "reticent": "He was reticent about his past.". More examples on the page.