RETICENT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does reticent mean? 

• RETICENT (adjective)
  The adjective RETICENT has 3 senses:

1. temperamentally disinclined to talk

2. cool and formal in manner

3. reluctant to draw attention to yourself

  Familiarity information: RETICENT used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RETICENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Temperamentally disinclined to talk

Synonyms:

reticent; untalkative

Similar:

taciturn (habitually reserved and uncommunicative)

Derivation:

reticence (the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cool and formal in manner

Synonyms:

restrained; reticent; unemotional

Similar:

undemonstrative (not given to open expression of emotion)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reluctant to draw attention to yourself

Synonyms:

reticent; retiring; self-effacing

Similar:

unassertive (inclined to timidity or lack of self-confidence)

 Context examples 

I remember that during our short visit we found the vicar garrulous, but his lodger strangely reticent, a sad-faced, introspective man, sitting with averted eyes, brooding apparently upon his own affairs.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Indeed, it may not be a hard task, after all, for she herself has become reticent on the subject, and has not spoken of the Count or his doings ever since we told her of our decision.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Never had he been at such an altitude of living, and he kept himself in the background, listening, observing, and pleasuring, replying in reticent monosyllables, saying, Yes, miss, and No, miss, to her, and Yes, ma'am, and No, ma'am, to her mother.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I found that my landlord had got a letter from the Count, directing him to secure the best place on the coach for me; but on making inquiries as to details he seemed somewhat reticent, and pretended that he could not understand my German.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)