1
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge
the panel decided to investigate the fraud charges against the company, which has always been reticent about its internal operations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)
her husband is by nature a reticent person, and she resigned herself to that fact long ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reluctant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
understandably, she's reticent about becoming involved with another evangelical religious sect
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reticent
Carr suspects drought has something to do with it, a sign that the natural world is buckling under skyrocketing temperatures and reticent rains.
—
Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
In a video tribute before the game, which featured Ullmark’s comments expressing why athletes are reticent to speak on mental health, before complimenting Senators fans, those same fans delivered tributes and welcome-backs.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
That Bamford might be a bit reticent to share more about her life, despite the open nature of her stand-up act, is understandable, but any nerves are soon put way at ease.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Perhaps reflecting the stakes, GOP staff and campaign aides were reticent Monday to talk about the issue at all.
—Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
In a video tribute before the game, which featured Ullmark’s comments expressing why athletes are reticent to speak on mental health, before complimenting Senators fans, those same fans delivered tributes and welcome-backs.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
That Bamford might be a bit reticent to share more about her life, despite the open nature of her stand-up act, is understandable, but any nerves are soon put way at ease.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Perhaps reflecting the stakes, GOP staff and campaign aides were reticent Monday to talk about the issue at all.
—Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reticent
Adjective
-
March roster-building is the draft’s silent narrator.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Police have arrested a 21-year-old man in the 2024 shooting death of a popular North Miami Beach barber, a development that came more than a year after the crime, following new information from a witness who said fear kept her silent for months.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
General parking is $25 per vehicle on the day of the show, and other options are available for season pass, reserved and premier parking spots.—
Joseph Hernandez
March 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In contrast to the hockey arena, Millett Hall has no suites, no club level and only three small reserved sections that aren’t first-come, first-served.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet overall hiring was essentially unchanged, suggesting companies are reluctant to fill open positions, perhaps because of uncertainty around the impact of artificial intelligence.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
An effort to make a Chicago option viable, even for the reluctant Bears, would be both good policy — and good politics, too.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Dysfunctional families can look many different ways, but typically are controlling, secretive, neglectful, and uncommunicative.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Anthropic was happy to permit a role for Claude to surveil individuals under the jurisdiction of a FISA court, a secretive tribunal that oversees requests for surveillance warrants involving foreign powers or their agents on domestic soil.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Downstairs, Bar Calico has a more restrained vibe.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Refined, deliberate, restrained.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But as the hour goes on, even the most hesitant members of the class are won over.—
Deena Prichep,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Due to uncertainty surrounding tariffs and AI developments, employers, while not necessarily firing en masse, appear hesitant to hire.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The terrain is demanding, but the setting—expansive views, shifting light, and quiet trails—creates a rhythm that carries through the rest of the day.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The Omni dock was relatively quiet when self-emptying and automatically dispensed cleaning solution, which was convenient.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Paige is little more than a dumb blonde stereotype, another underwritten female character in Sheridan’s growing oeuvre, but Chapman laces her babyish whining with surprising bite, while showing a knack for physical comedy.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Mar. 2026
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How did an Ivy League grad from Penn get so dumb?—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reticent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reticent. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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