All Words
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Word of the Day

reticent

adjective

Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; reserved; reluctant to draw attention to oneself.

Intermediate - Known to most educated speakers

Etymology

From Latin reticens, present participle of reticere "to keep silent," from re- (intensive) + tacere "to be silent."

Examples in Use

  • 1.

    "She was reticent about her personal life."

  • 2.

    "The usually reticent CEO gave a rare interview."

  • 3.

    "He remained reticent despite persistent questioning."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

reservedtaciturnuncommunicativequietwithdrawn

Related Words

silentsecretivetight-lippedrestrained

Fun Fact

Reticent technically means "reluctant to speak," not "reluctant" generally. Using it for general reluctance ("reticent to try") is common but considered incorrect by purists. Taciturn is a close synonym.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 8 letters (R, E, T, I, C, E, N, T)

Scrabble Value: 10 points

Tip: Look for common letter combinations like "RE" at the start of words.

Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!

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