Need another word that means the same as “reticent”? Find 16 synonyms and 30 related words for “reticent” in this overview.
Table Of Contents:
The synonyms of “Reticent” are: untalkative, restrained, unemotional, retiring, self-effacing, reserved, withdrawn, introverted, inhibited, diffident, shy, modest, unassuming, shrinking, distant, undemonstrative
Reticent as an Adjective
Definitions of "Reticent" as an adjective
According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “reticent” as an adjective can have the following definitions:
- Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.
- Cool and formal in manner.
- Reluctant to draw attention to yourself.
- Temperamentally disinclined to talk.
Synonyms of "Reticent" as an adjective (16 Words)
| diffident | Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence. Stood in the doorway diffident and abashed. |
| distant | Located far away spatially. Distant villages. |
| inhibited | Held back or restrained or prevented. In certain conditions previously inhibited conditioned reactions can reappear. |
| introverted | Of, denoting, or typical of an introvert. |
| modest | Limited in size or scope. It was a nice wedding necessarily modest. |
| reserved | Slow to reveal emotion or opinions. Was habitually reserved in speech withholding her opinion. |
| restrained | Not showy or obtrusive. Restrained in his response. |
| retiring | Of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office. A shy retiring girl. |
| self-effacing | Reluctant to draw attention to yourself. |
| shrinking | Becoming smaller in size or amount. The shrinking market has provoked a massive price war. |
| shy | (of a plant) not bearing flowers or fruit well or prolifically. He left school just shy of his fourteenth birthday. |
| unassuming | Not pretentious or arrogant; modest. He was an unassuming and kindly man. |
| undemonstrative | (of a person) not tending to express feelings, especially of affection, openly. The English are an undemonstrative lot. |
| unemotional | Not having or showing strong feelings. A flat unemotional voice. |
| untalkative | Temperamentally disinclined to talk. Joe was shy and untalkative. |
| withdrawn | Withdrawn from society seeking solitude. When her husband died she became very withdrawn. |
Usage Examples of "Reticent" as an adjective
- She was extremely reticent about her personal affairs.
Associations of "Reticent" (30 Words)
| aloof | In an aloof manner. He stayed aloof from the bickering. |
| bashful | Disposed to avoid notice blate is a Scottish term for bashful. Everything you need to know but have been too bashful to ask. |
| cagey | Characterized by great caution and wariness. A cagey lawyer. |
| contained | Gotten under control. The oil spill is contained. |
| coy | Making a pretence of shyness or modesty that is intended to be alluring (typically used of a woman. A politician coy about his intentions. |
| demure | (of clothing) giving a modest appearance. A demure knee length skirt. |
| diffident | Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence. She was diffident when offering a comment on the professor s lecture. |
| inarticulate | Unable to express one’s ideas or feelings clearly or easily. Mention of her mother filled her with inarticulate irritation. |
| introversion | (psychology) an introverted disposition; concern with one’s own thoughts and feelings. The tongue tied introversion of the self conscious artist. |
| introvert | A shy, reticent person. He introverted his feelings. |
| introverted | Given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences. |
| modesty | Formality and propriety of manner. The modesty of his political aspirations. |
| muted | (of a sound or voice) quiet and soft. A dress in muted tones of powder blue and dusty pink. |
| passive | A passive form of a verb. The ball was thrown is an abbreviated passive. |
| prissy | Exaggeratedly proper. A middle class family with two prissy children. |
| quiet | With little or no activity or no agitation quiet is a nonstandard variant for quietly. Molly spoke with quiet confidence. |
| reclusive | Avoiding the company of other people; solitary. Sitting under the reclusive calm of a shade tree. |
| reserved | Marked by self-restraint and reticence. A reserved seat. |
| restrained | Cool and formal in manner. His restrained gentlemanly voice. |
| retiring | Shy and fond of being on one’s own. A shy retiring girl. |
| shy | Slow or reluctant to do (something. He left school just shy of his fourteenth birthday. |
| silent | Implied by or inferred from actions or statements. The poems are silent on the question of marriage. |
| subdued | (of colour or lighting) soft and restrained. A subdued glow came through the curtains. |
| taciturn | (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. After such gatherings she would be taciturn and morose. |
| timid | Showing fear and lack of confidence. Problems that call for bold not timid responses. |
| unassertive | Inclined to timidity or lack of self-confidence. His bland and unassertive personal style. |
| uncommunicative | Unwilling to talk or impart information. He had always been quiet and uncommunicative having few friends. |
| unobtrusive | Not obtrusive or undesirably noticeable. The service was unobtrusive and efficient. |
| unutterable | Defying expression or description. Unutterable consonant clusters. |
| withdrawn | Withdrawn from society seeking solitude. When her husband died she became very withdrawn. |
