reticent

[ ret-uh-suhnt ]
/ ˈrɛt ə sənt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR reticent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved.
reluctant or restrained.

Origin of reticent

1825–35; < Latin reticent- (stem of reticēns), present participle of reticēre to be silent, equivalent to re- re- + -tic-, combining form of tacēre to be silent (cf. tacit) + -ent- -ent

OTHER WORDS FROM reticent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reticent

reluctant reticent (see synonym study at reluctant) reticent reluctant

Words nearby reticent

rethink, rethondes, retiarius, retiary, reticence, reticent, reticle, reticul-, reticular, reticular activating system, reticular cell

Words related to reticent

reserved, silent, hesitant, taciturn, shy, bashful, mum, restrained, close, tight-lipped, uncommunicative, uptight, unforthcoming

Example sentences from the Web for reticent

British Dictionary definitions for reticent

reticent
/ (ˈrɛtɪsənt) /

adjective

not open or communicative; not saying all that one knows; taciturn; reserved

Derived forms of reticent

reticence, noun reticently, adverb

Word Origin for reticent

C19: from Latin reticēre to keep silent, from re- + tacēre to be silent