tight-lipped
Refusing to speak
Tight-lipped means unwilling to speak or reveal information, as if pressing the lips together to keep words from escaping: Officials remained tight-lipped about the investigation.
It can also describe a facial expression showing disapproval or determination—lips pressed thin and firm: She gave him a tight-lipped smile.
Disinclined to speak freely
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
- guardedWary and restrained
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- cageyReluctant to share information
close-mouthed · unforthcoming · noncommittal · cryptic · furtive · covert · clandestine · surreptitious
Without voice or sound
- speechlessUnable to talk
- wordlessLacking spoken content
- quietLacking in sound
- hushedReduced to silence
voiceless · unspoken · zipped · sealed · stone-faced · deadpan · blank · still
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- withdrawnEmotionally distant, disengaged
- restrainedHeld under control
- introvertedTurned toward inner life
- detachedApart or uninvolved
distant · reticent · undemonstrative · self-contained · stoic · impassive · composed · controlled
Puzzling and obscure
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- crypticObscure in meaning
- unfathomableBeyond comprehension or measurement
- impenetrableImpossible to pass through
opaque · veiled · obscure · puzzling · sphinxlike · unreadable · ambiguous · elusive
reticent
Disinclined to speak freely
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
- guardedWary and restrained
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
cagey · close-mouthed · unforthcoming · noncommittal · cryptic · furtive · covert · clandestine · surreptitious · stealthy
mute
Without voice or sound
- speechlessUnable to talk
- wordlessLacking spoken content
- quietLacking in sound
hushed · voiceless · unspoken · zipped · sealed · stone-faced · deadpan · blank · still · mum
aloof
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- withdrawnEmotionally distant, disengaged
- restrainedHeld under control
- introvertedTurned toward inner life
detached · distant · reticent · undemonstrative · self-contained · stoic · impassive · composed · controlled · buttoned-up
enigmatic
Puzzling and obscure
- inscrutableImpossible to understand
- crypticObscure in meaning
- unfathomableBeyond comprehension or measurement
impenetrable · opaque · veiled · obscure · puzzling · sphinxlike · unreadable · ambiguous · elusive · shadowy
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- facial expressionssmiling, smile, grin, grinning, frown
- silencequiet, silent, mute, hush, stillness
- restrainedrestrained, reserved, subdued, controlled, muted
- lip expressionspout, pucker, pursed lips, smile, frown
- warinesscaution, wariness, guardedness, vigilance, watchfulness
tight-lippedforthcoming
Soon to appear
open · candid · transparent · communicative · revealing
tight-lippedtalkative
Inclined to speak much
loquacious · garrulous · chatty · gabby · verbose
tight-lippedindiscreet
Lacking prudent restraint
loose-lipped · blabby · gossipy · blabbermouthed · mouthy