reticent
Unwilling to share
Reticent means reluctant to speak or share information—reserved, not forthcoming.
A reticent witness offers little testimony.
Someone reticent about their past avoids discussing it.
The word suggests deliberate restraint rather than shyness.
Some use reticent to mean reluctant generally (reticent to act), though purists object to this extension beyond speech.
Unwilling to share thoughts
- tight-lippedUnwilling to divulge
- closemouthedReluctant to speak
- unforthcomingReluctant to share information
- laconicBrief in expression
terse · sparing · monosyllabic · quiet · withdrawn · silent · wordless · mute
Careful to avoid risk
- waryGuardedly alert
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- carefulExercising caution and attention
measured · hesitant · cagey · evasive · noncommittal · prudent · chary · leery
Lacking courage or confidence
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
- meekHumbly unassertive
- mousyShy and unassertive
unassertive · self-effacing · shrinking · retiring · introverted · withdrawn · nervous · awkward
Lacking in pretension
- demureModestly reserved in manner
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- unassumingNot making claims
- subduedReduced in intensity
self-contained · private · withdrawn · inhibited · restrained · temperate · sober · composed
Understood without words
- implicitUnderstood without being stated
- impliedSuggested without stating
- unexpressedNot communicated outwardly
- unstatedNot openly expressed
unuttered · unvoiced · undeclared · unarticulated · unsaid · hidden · indirect · inferred
uncommunicative
Unwilling to share thoughts
- tight-lippedUnwilling to divulge
- closemouthedReluctant to speak
- unforthcomingReluctant to share information
laconic · terse · sparing · monosyllabic · quiet · withdrawn · silent · wordless · mute · inarticulate
cautious
Careful to avoid risk
- waryGuardedly alert
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
careful · measured · hesitant · cagey · evasive · noncommittal · prudent · chary · leery · watchful
timid
Lacking courage or confidence
mousy · unassertive · self-effacing · shrinking · retiring · introverted · withdrawn · nervous · awkward · reluctant
modest
Lacking in pretension
- demureModestly reserved in manner
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- unassumingNot making claims
subdued · self-contained · private · withdrawn · inhibited · restrained · temperate · sober · composed · controlled
tacit
Understood without words
- implicitUnderstood without being stated
- impliedSuggested without stating
- unexpressedNot communicated outwardly
unstated · unuttered · unvoiced · undeclared · unarticulated · unsaid · hidden · indirect · inferred · understood
- humilityhumbleness, humble, meekness, modesty, modest
- SAT vocabularyaesthetic, ambiguous, benevolent, candid, concise
- discretiondiscreet, discretion, subtle, understated, unobtrusive
- introvertsintrovert, introverted, shy, loner, withdrawn
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- silencequiet, silent, mute, hush, stillness
reticenttalkative
Inclined to speak much
loquacious · garrulous · voluble · chatty · verbose
reticentforthcoming
Soon to appear
open · candid · frank · communicative · expansive
reticentforward
Onward in direction
assertive · self-assertive · bold · demonstrative · pushy