reticent
/ˈrɛtɪs(ə)nt
/adjective
Not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily: she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs...
- Like others who are naturally reticent and introverted he was able, says Dimbleby, to lose himself in the disciplined freedom of performance.
- Turner was famously reticent regarding his private life.
- He was unusually withdrawn and reticent during that time, until suddenly, the more public horror of world events seemed to shock him out of it.
Synonyms
reserved, withdrawn, introverted, restrained, inhibited, diffident, shy, modest, unassuming, shrinking, distant, undemonstrative, wouldn't say boo to a goose;
uncommunicative, unforthcoming, unresponsive, tight-lipped, close-mouthed, close-lipped, quiet, taciturn, silent, guarded, secretive, private, media-shy, playing one's cards close to one's chest
informal mum
Derivatives
reticently
- He looked at me, smiling reticently, and said, ‘I'll pick you up at 7.’
- It was remarkable to see this young girl walk reticently on stage, sit at the piano and begin to play so naturally, confidently and without any interference to the musical flow.
- Haskil plays the two concertos intimately but not reticently.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Latin reticent- 'remaining silent', from the verb reticere, from re- (expressing intensive force) + tacere 'be silent'.
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