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taciturn

taciturn

5 8.4
A person who does not speak much and seems reserved
  • adjective
  • /ˈtæsɪˌtɜrn/
translation icon : taciturno
  • The two taciturn policewomen escorting Consuelo removed her handcuffs, dropped her battered suitcase, and left.
  • taciturn man
  • taciturn father
  • taciturn nature

But she was the the textbook definition of taciturn.

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Examples

  • But she couldn't get that taciturn fellow out of her thoughts.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Rogers notes also that Selkirk remains taciturn and withdrawn.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The taciturn group members kept their negative emotions and information on social interactions to themselves.

    Academic text (2006)
  • He was sort of taciturn, slow moving, wait and see.

  • "Thank you," said the man, a funny-looking, taciturn fellow with enormous ears.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The other guests attempted to converse with the rather taciturn Dr. Morgenstern.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • In a neighborhood thick with the gloom of taciturn men, he's famous for silence.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • In her presence, he was gloomy and taciturn, and also perpetually restless and ill at ease.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Although he is usually taciturn, today he shared his thoughts freely with his friends.

  • At the meeting, her taciturn nature stood out among the more talkative members.

Synonyms

reticent
vstaciturn
17 7.9

Not willing to talk about thoughts or feelings easily

is quieter by habit rather than deliberately hiding opinions
uncommunicative
vstaciturn
4 6.3

Not willing to talk or give information

is quiet as a stable trait rather than actively withholding facts
untalkative
vstaciturn
6.2

Not talking much and often listening to others

is a steady habitual quietness rather than just temporary silence
reserved
vstaciturn
3.7

Not willing to show feelings or talk much

is more about quiet speech habit rather than controlled polite manner

Antonyms

33 2.5

A person who likes to speak a lot with other people

loquacious
  • Formal
6 9.9

A person who talks a lot about small everyday things

Willing to talk and share information or feelings

voluble
  • Formal
2 8.6

Speaking a lot in a smooth way without stopping

How Talkative

talkative
33 2.5
chatty
  • Informal
36 3.3
reserved
3.7
taciturn
5 8.4
silent
397 1.0

Surface Forms

taciturn positive
taciturner comparative
taciturnest superlative

Etymology

Taciturn comes from the Latin verb tacere, which means 'to be silent', and it shares the same root as the English word tacit ('understood without words'). So a taciturn person is usually quiet and does not speak much.