Reticence

Quick meaning: Reticence is a noun meaning (uncountable) A silent and reserved nature.

Meaning

(uncountable) A silent and reserved nature.

More Meanings

1. (uncountable) Followed by of: discretion or restraint in the use of something.
2. (uncountable, proscribed) Often followed by to: hesitancy or reluctance (to do something).
3. (countable, uncountable, rhetoric, obsolete) Synonym of aposiopesis (“an abrupt breaking-off in speech”).
4. (transitive, rare) To deliberately not listen or pay attention to; to disregard, to ignore.
5. (uncountable, also figuratively) Avoidance of saying or reluctance to say too much; discretion, tight-lippedness; (countable) an instance of acting in this manner.

Example Sentences

That is why I regret that my arguments have not convinced many scholars, as shown by the reticenses of some here present.

The greatest egotist has his reticenses. It is only during the sessions of sweet silent thought that a man can summon his soul to judgment.

The painter's absurd fits of jealousy, his wild devotion, his extravagant panegyrics, his curious reticences—he understood them all now, and he felt sorry.

[Y]ou paſſe ouer their teſtimonies, & his whole diſcourſe out of them, with a fraudulent reticence of the particulars, and thinke to be euen with them, making vp by ſcoffing, what you cannot by arguing, [...]

Word Forms

• reticences
• reticense
• reticencing
• reticenced

Synonyms for reticence

Depending on context, synonyms include reserve, taciturnity, introversion, reservation, bashfulness, demureness.

Antonyms for reticence

Common opposites include ostentation, chattiness, garrulity, logorrhea, logorrhoea, loquaciousness.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include taciturnity, reserve, reticent, refusal, abstention, abstain.

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