adjective

reticent

/ˈrɛtɪsənt/ · say it: RET·uh·suhnt

not revealing one's thoughts readily

In Personality & Character

In more detail

1. (adjective) unwilling to speak openly or say much about something; quiet and reserved

2. (adjective) unwilling to do something; reluctant

Examples

1. He was reticent about his past and rarely discussed it with anyone.
2. The company was reticent to admit that the product had safety issues.

How to use reticent

Reticent primarily describes someone who is habitually quiet or reserved and reluctant to share information or feelings. When meaning reluctance or unwillingness to do something, it is typically used with the preposition 'about' or 'to.' The word carries a sense of deliberate withholding rather than mere shyness, and is common in formal contexts and descriptive writing.

Common phrases

reticent about
remain reticent
somewhat reticent
reticent on the subject
reticent by nature

Synonyms

reserved · quiet · taciturn · reluctant · unwilling

Opposites

forthcoming · voluble · talkative

Word family

reticence (noun) · reticently (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse reticent (unwilling to speak) with reluctant (unwilling to do), though the second meaning exists; reticent is also sometimes incorrectly used as a synonym for 'silent' without implying reluctance or reservation.

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