reticent

/ˈrɛtɪs(ə)nt/adjective

Unwilling to share your thoughts or talk about yourself.

Example sentence

“My grandfather was always reticent about his years in the navy.”

Increasingly used to mean reluctant to do anything, but careful writers keep it for reluctance to speak or share.

Featured as word of the day on July 7, 2026.

Related words

retireTo leave your job for good, usually because you have reached a certain age or for health reasons.retailThe business of selling goods directly to customers, whether in shops, by mail, or online.returnTo go back or come back to a place or person.resumeA document listing your education, work history, and skills, given to employers when applying for a job.reunionAn organized gathering where people who have been apart, such as family or old classmates, come together again.restlessUnable to relax or stay still, often because of boredom or worry.