taciturn

Sparing with words

Taciturn describes someone habitually quiet or uncommunicative—not from shyness necessarily, but from temperament.

A taciturn person speaks little and volunteers less: Her taciturn father sat reading while conversation swirled around him.

The word suggests reserve rather than hostility, though the line can blur.

reserved

withdrawn

Emotionally distant, disengaged

aloofEmotionally withdrawn, uninviting
guardedWary and restrained
privateRestricted to certain parties

discreet · introverted · shy · inhibited · modest · demure · timid · diffident · restrained · undemonstrative

silent

quiet

Lacking in sound

muteWithout voice or sound
wordlessLacking spoken content
speechlessUnable to talk

hushed · still · tongue-tied · voiceless · soundless · tight-lipped · closemouthed · uncommunicative · laconic · terse

solitary

reclusive

Seeking isolation from others

secludedSet apart, private
isolatedSeparated from others
hermiticSeeking complete seclusion

monastic · withdrawn · unsociable · antisocial · insular · retiring · elusive · remote · lone · solitary

Categories

SAT vocabularyaesthetic, ambiguous, benevolent, candid, concise
introvertsintrovert, introverted, shy, reserved, loner
fancy wordsgrandiloquent, magniloquent, sesquipedalian, pulchritudinous, tintinnabulation
silencequiet, silent, mute, hush, stillness
restrainedrestrained, reserved, subdued, controlled, muted

Opposites

verbal quantity

taciturntalkative

Inclined to speak much

loquacious · garrulous · voluble · chatty · gabby

social openness

taciturncommunicative

Apt to share information

forthcoming · unreserved · outspoken · vocal · conversational

temperament/disposition

taciturngregarious

Fond of companionship

outgoing · sociable · extraverted · effusive · ebullient

Family

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G