1
as in silent
deliberately refraining from speech
the child was uncommunicative and unhelpful to school investigators
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in secretive
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge
intelligence agencies must be uncommunicative about their operations if they are to be at all effective
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)
resigned to the fact that her husband was always going to be an uncommunicative partner
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of uncommunicative
Where Tammy proves no more fortunate than Patti is in her choice of husband: David, distant and uncommunicative, is having an affair with his office assistant, Narcedalia (Dascha Polanco).
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Some supporters felt their club had become too corporate, too cold and too uncommunicative.
—Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Often, a less qualified candidate who displays high energy and eagerness can outshine a more qualified individual who appears disinterested and uncommunicative.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Sasse was uncommunicative and sometimes unresponsive to the university’s students and staff.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for uncommunicative
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Some supporters felt their club had become too corporate, too cold and too uncommunicative.
—Greg O'Keeffe, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Often, a less qualified candidate who displays high energy and eagerness can outshine a more qualified individual who appears disinterested and uncommunicative.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Sasse was uncommunicative and sometimes unresponsive to the university’s students and staff.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for uncommunicative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncommunicative
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
-
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
-
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
-
In helicopter video taken by Air Maui Helicopter Tours in Lahaina and posted online the people aboard are largely speechless.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC News,
10 Aug. 2023
-
Because his work, as is often the case, leaves us almost speechless.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2023
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
Adjective
-
Other members of the fractured Jackson clan have remained unusually mute on the battle — even as Paris’ aunt Janet Jackson was very publicly out and about at recent runway shows in the City of Lights.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
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Millions of Democrats in Texas, Republicans in California and partisans in other states have been effectively disenfranchised, their voices rendered mute.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
So far, leaders have been reticent to tap reserves.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Kurds entering the war against Iran could have wider repercussions and Iraqi Kurd leaders are reticent to commit, according to a person familiar with their thinking.—
Maria Paula Mijares Torres,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Uncommunicative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncommunicative. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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