reticence
10
7.8
- noun
- /ˈrɛtɪsəns/
:
reticencia
- He showed great reticence about discussing his personal life during the interview.
- reticence and anonymity
- explain his reticence
- general reticence
A cynicism, a fear of speaking your mind, a reticence or a sort of holding back.
- A cynicism, a fear of speaking your mind, a reticence or a sort of holding back.
- So it seems like a relatively sex positive world, yet young people still have a lot of reticence about talking about their sex.
- She is also in some ways like Donald Trump, expressed some reticence about particular trade deals, including the Trans Pacific Partnership.
- What what, what's the kind of person that creates that reticence, often loudmouth, right.
- And to even if you you remember the voice that we heard, you can hear the reticence.
- But what's the reticence of saying, you know, I mean, Philip Roth is a good example.
Examples
-
I detect a note of reticence.
-
Yet after an initial reticence, Richie was eager to speak of what he did.
Fiction book (2001) -
Now I can understand your reticence with taking the drug.
-
Can you not sense my reticence?
-
One explanation is the reticence of men to reveal such difficulties to researchers.
Academic text (2008) -
But I assure you that your reticence will not prejudice us against you.
-
The villagers were used to his reticence; it was the quality that most aroused their admiration.
Fiction book (1993) -
Her shyness had been transmuted into reticence, her stiffness into dignity.
Fiction book (1993) -
Reticence, Virginia, is the sine qua non of gentility.
-
Ransome, sensing the other man's reticence, allowed the comment to pass unchallenged.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
181
4.0
Not speaking about something when people ask you
9
5.2
A quiet way of acting that shows little emotion
1
6.5
The habit of not telling people things or hiding information from them
1
6.9
A way of being careful and reserved about sharing personal thoughts or feelings
1
7.5
A tendency to be careful and secret about giving information
A tendency to be quiet and avoid talking
Not talking or sharing thoughts with others
Quiet behaviour that does not show feelings or thoughts openly
Antonyms
How Reserved
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word reticence comes from the Latin verb reticere, which meant 'be silent' and is the same root as tacit ('quiet'). So, reticence means 'not speaking freely' or being reserved.