YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME
Reticent
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Meaning in plain English
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Pronunciation
Reticent/ˈrɛtɪsənt/
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Few thoughts are shared
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Examples in context
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- He was reticent about his past, choosing to keep most details to himself.
- Unlike her outgoing friends, Maya was reticent and preferred listening to speaking.
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He was ________ about his past, choosing to keep most details to himself.
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Reticent — Not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily; reserved or habitually silent.
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Not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily; reserved or habitually silent.
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Reticent about sharing information
Reticent commonly describes someone who says little about thoughts, feelings or private matters. The pattern reticent about is useful. A person can be reticent about a topic without being shy in every situation. The broader sense reluctant also occurs, but reserved or unwilling to speak makes the communication sense explicit.
In context: Normally talkative, Meera was reticent about her plans to move.
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No. About her plans limits the description to one subject. She may be open and talkative about other things.
Dictionary reference: Merriam-Webster: Reticent.
Word origin
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