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reticent
adjective /ˈret.ɪ.sənt/
/ˈret̬.ə-/ formalDefinition
› unwilling to speak about your thoughts or feelings: He is very reticent about his past. Most of the students were reticent about answering questions.Not saying muchBlunt and direct in speech and behaviourNot being friendlyDigressing and being indirect or evasiveShy and modestAnxious and worried reticence
/-səns/ noun [U] › His reticence about his past made them very suspicious.Not saying muchBlunt and direct in speech and behaviourNot being friendlyDigressing and being indirect or evasiveShy and modestAnxious and worried reticently
/-li/ adverb
(Definition of reticent adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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SMART Thesaurus: Shy and modest
Synonyms and related words:
- bashful adjective
- be backward in coming forward idiom
- crawl/go/retreat/retire into your shell idiom
- diffident adjective
- efface verb (BE MODEST)
- humble adjective
- inhibited adjective
- inhibition noun
- introvert noun
- modest adjective (CLOTHES/BEHAVIOUR)
- modest adjective (QUIETLY SUCCESSFUL)
- modesty noun (QUIET SUCCESS)
- private adjective (PERSONAL)
- selfless adjective
- shrinking violet noun
- shyly adverb
- shyness noun
- unassuming adjective
- withdraw verb (STOP CONTACT)
- withdrawal noun (NO CONTACT)
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