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
The English have always been a reticent lot and the smartphone has probably made this worse.
—
Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
Allies of Brazil’s president in Congress said opposition governors, who are in charge of local police, are reticent about using funds from the initiative launched on Tuesday.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Rashad has always been reticent to follow in the footsteps of his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026
While the Houthis suspended the attacks in fall 2025, container shipping has still been reticent about sending loops through the area full time.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
Allies of Brazil’s president in Congress said opposition governors, who are in charge of local police, are reticent about using funds from the initiative launched on Tuesday.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Rashad has always been reticent to follow in the footsteps of his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026
While the Houthis suspended the attacks in fall 2025, container shipping has still been reticent about sending loops through the area full time.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reticent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reticent
Adjective
-
This battery system will enable up to 12 hours of silent scientific operations powered entirely by batteries, reducing both emissions and underwater noise that can interfere with sensitive marine research.—
Dea Jusufi,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
The system’s movements are perfectly precise, silent and ultra-smooth.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
In her early public appearances, she was often seen with her head bowed and her gaze upward, a posture that, alongside her soft-spoken demeanor, led the British press to characterize her as timid and reserved.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
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Also not helping matters is Center Rep’s rather reserved staging of the show.—
Charles Lewis III,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Groundwater districts, while long reluctant to engage in conservation planning, do have statutory authority to do so.—
Allen Best,
Denver Post,
14 June 2026
-
Vandalism, assaults and robberies downtown have driven businesses out, and a noticeable lack of police presence makes people reluctant to return.—
Lily Wright,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
The full transcripts of the grand jury sessions in the case are expected to be made public this week, giving a rare look into a normally secretive process and detailing the exact misbehavior previously outlined by the judge.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
Misleading numbers and secretive spending aren’t mere glitches in this administration.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Elinor Dashwood is the epitome of Sense—self-contained, controlled, restrained.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
When a court issues a domestic violence protective order, federal law prohibits the restrained person from possessing a gun.—
Sativa Banks,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
His early, anonymous SoundCloud drops were hushed and hesitant, a shroud of tape hiss and white noise between himself and true self-examination.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
10 June 2026
-
Under normal circumstances, Blackburn is hesitant to give himself away.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Only six minutes into this match, New Zealand has scored to take a 1-0 lead and temporarily quiet what had been a raucous crowd tilted toward the Iranian team.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
-
The end of mandatory minicamp ushers in the quietest time on the NFL calendar.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
For a few hours, there's no doom and gloom on the news, no family drama, no Slack notifications, no people fighting about dumb stuff on social media.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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That there are actually people trying to turn this guy – the name is Brendan Sorsby — into some kind of victim is just as dumb as that injunction.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reticent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reticent. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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