reticent — not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; reserved in manner
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; reserved in manner
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈretɪsənt/
Example Sentences
- The detective was reticent about the murder case, refusing to reveal any clues even to his coffee.
- My grandfather is reticent about his war experiences and prefers to talk about his garden instead.
- The CEO remained reticent during the press conference, answering questions with mysterious smiles.
reticent
ADJECTIVE[/ˈretɪsənt/]
not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; reserved in manner
Reserved and reluctant to share
Recent news, ninety percent heard - yet reticent, she speaks no word
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin reticent-, the present participle stem of reticere, meaning 'to keep silent.' The word combines re- (back) and tacere (to be silent), ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European roots related to silence and restraint.
Breakdown
re- (back) + tacere (to be silent) + -ent (adjective suffix) = reticent
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The detective was reticent about the murder case, refusing to reveal any clues even to his coffee.”
“My grandfather is reticent about his war experiences and prefers to talk about his garden instead.”
“The CEO remained reticent during the press conference, answering questions with mysterious smiles.”
“She's so reticent that even her diary entries are just awkward silence in written form.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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