retiring
Ending one's career
Retiring describes someone who avoids attention and prefers to stay in the background—quiet, modest, unassuming: She had a retiring disposition that made her uncomfortable at parties.
The word suggests shyness without negative judgment.
Separately, retiring can simply mean leaving a job or position permanently: the retiring CEO.
Reserved and retiring
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
- demureModestly reserved in manner
meek · self-effacing · unassuming · reserved · reticent · modest · quiet · withdrawn
Existing alone, apart
- secludedSet apart, private
- reclusiveSeeking isolation from others
- hermiticSeeking complete seclusion
- cloisteredSheltered from outside contact
withdrawn · private · sequestered · isolated · unsociable · antisocial · aloof · detached
Restrained in manner
- restrainedHeld under control
- guardedWary and restrained
- taciturnHabitually uncommunicative
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
discreet · undemonstrative · understated · low-key · quiet · subdued · cool · standoffish
Leave-taking expression
- departureAct of going away
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- pensionRetiree's ongoing benefit
superannuation · goodbye · parting · leave-taking · swan song · finale · valediction · golden years
shy
Reserved and retiring
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
demure · meek · self-effacing · unassuming · reserved · reticent · modest · quiet · withdrawn · inhibited
solitary
Existing alone, apart
cloistered · withdrawn · private · sequestered · isolated · unsociable · antisocial · aloof · detached · monastic
reserved
Restrained in manner
- restrainedHeld under control
- guardedWary and restrained
- taciturnHabitually uncommunicative
uncommunicative · discreet · undemonstrative · understated · low-key · quiet · subdued · cool · standoffish · unapproachable
farewell
Leave-taking expression
- departureAct of going away
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- withdrawalAct of taking away
pension · superannuation · goodbye · parting · leave-taking · swan song · finale · valediction · golden years · sendoff
- retirementretirees, pension plan, pension, pensioner, pension fund
- humilityhumbleness, humble, meekness, modesty, modest
- leavingdeparture, quit, walking away, withdrawing, bail
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- introvertsintrovert, introverted, shy, reserved, loner
- phasing outphasing out, sunsetting, discontinuing, deprecating, decommissioning
retiringoutgoing
Sociable and unreserved
extroverted · gregarious · bold · assertive · sociable
retiringincoming
Moving toward arrival
starting · beginning · joining · entering · commencing
retiringattention-seeking
Craving others' focus
immodest · showy · exhibitionistic · ostentatious · flamboyant