reticent, taciturn

reticent, taciturn
A reticent person is reserved, not inclined to speak freely or often, disposed to keep quiet. A taciturn person is also inclined to silence and reluctant to take part in conversation. However, a taciturn individual is usually considered surly, dour, sullen, and severe. That is, a reticent person is pleasantly shy, withdrawn, and silent; a taciturn individual is unpleasantly so. Related words are silent, uncommunicative, reserved, still, and quiescent.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • taciturn — See reticent. See reticent, taciturn …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • reticent — See reticent, taciturn …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • reticent — I adjective cautious, concise, confidential, constrained, detached, distant, evasive, guarded, laconic, mute, noncommittal, recondite, remote, reserved, restrained, retiring, secretive, sparing of words, standoffish, succinct, taciturn,… …   Law dictionary

  • taciturn — I adjective brusque, close, closemouthed, curt, dumb, guarded, habitually silent, inarticulate, laconic, mum, mute, pauciloquent, quiet, reserved, restrained, reticent, secretive, silent, sparing of words, speechless, taciturnus, uncommunicative …   Law dictionary

  • taciturn — *silent, uncommunicative, reserved, reticent, secretive, close, close lipped, closemouthed, tight lipped Analogous words: *dumb, mute, inarticulate: restrained, inhibited, curbed, checked (see RESTRAIN) Antonyms: garrulous: clamorous (especially… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • taciturn — [adj] uncommunicative aloof, antisocial, brooding, clammed up*, close, closemouthed*, cold, curt, distant, dour, dried up*, dumb, laconic, mum, mute, quiet, reserved, reticent, sententious, silent, sparing, speechless, tight lipped*, unexpressive …   New thesaurus

  • reticent — *silent, reserved, uncommunicative, taciturn, secretive, close, close lipped, closemouthed, tight lipped Analogous words: restrained, inhibited, curbed, checked (see RESTRAIN): discreet, prudent (see under PRUDENCE) Antonyms: frank Contrasted… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • reticent — [adj] secretive, quiet bashful, clammed up*, close, close mouthed, dried up*, dummied up*, hesitant, mum, reserved, restrained, shy, silent, taciturn, tight lipped, uncommunicative, unforthcoming, unspeaking, uptight*; concepts 267,401 Ant.… …   New thesaurus

  • reticent — [ret′əsənt] adj. [L reticens, prp. of reticere, to be silent < re , again + tacere, to be silent: see TACIT] 1. habitually silent or uncommunicative; disinclined to speak readily; reserved; taciturn 2. having a restrained, quiet, or… …   English World dictionary

  • reticent — I (Roget s IV) modif. Syn. reserved, uncommunicative, hesitant, quiet; see quiet 2 , reserved 3 , taciturn . II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) (VOCABULARY WORD) a. [RET i sunt] reserved, quiet, restrained. He tended to be reticent and barely spoke… …   English dictionary for students

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