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Reticence
/ˈɹɛtɪs(ə)ns/
An abrupt breaking-off in speech, often indicated in print using an ellipsis (…) or an em dash (—).
📖 Definitions of "Reticence"
- 1
An abrupt breaking-off in speech, often indicated in print using an ellipsis (…) or an em dash (—).
- 1
Avoidance of saying or reluctance to say too much; discretion, tight-lippedness; an instance of acting in this manner.
- 2
A silent and reserved nature.
- 3
Followed by of: discretion or restraint in the use of something.
- 4
Often followed by to: hesitancy or reluctance (to do something).
- 1
To deliberately not listen or pay attention to; to disregard, to ignore.
🔄 Synonyms of "Reticence"
2 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| taciturnitynoun | The trait of being taciturn. |
| reservenoun | (transitive, ditransitive) To book in advance; to make a reservation for. |
💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Reticence"
Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| taciturnitynoun | The trait of being taciturn. |
| reservenoun | The act of reserving or keeping back; reservation; exception. |
| reticent | Unwilling to communicate; keeping one's thoughts and opinions to oneself; reserved or restrained. |
| refusalnoun | The act of refusing. |
| abstentionnoun | The act of declining to vote on a particular issue. |
| abstainverb | (intransitive) Refrain from (something or doing something); keep from doing, especially an indulgence. |
| reluctant | Not wanting to take some action; unwilling to do something. |
| reluctancenoun | Unwillingness to do something. |
| rejectionnoun | The act of rejecting. |
| silencenoun | The absence of any sound. |
| hesitancynoun | A pausing or halting before beginning a task, often as a result of some fear or uncertainty about the outcome. |
| resistancenoun | The act of resisting, or the capacity to resist. |
| diffidencenoun | The state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement. |
| hesitationnoun | An act of hesitating |
| unwillingnessnoun | The property of being unwilling. |
| aversionnoun | Opposition or repugnance of mind; fixed dislike often without any conscious reasoning. |
| oppositionnoun | The action of opposing or of being in conflict. |
| repugnancenoun | Extreme aversion, repulsion. |
| moderationnoun | The state or quality of being moderate; avoidance of extremes |
| timiditynoun | The state of being timid; shyness. |
⚡ Words Strongly Associated with "Reticence"
These words statistically appear in the same text as "reticence" (Google Books Ngrams).
🎨 Adjectives for "Reticence"
Popular adjectives used to describe this word in books.
📝 Common Phrases with "Reticence"
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🌐 Broader and Narrower Concepts
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