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Taciturn vs Reticence - What's the difference?

taciturn | reticence |

As an adjective taciturn

is silent; temperamentally untalkative; disinclined to speak.

As a noun reticence is

tight-lippedness, discretion, avoidance of saying too much.

taciturn

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Silent; temperamentally untalkative; disinclined to speak.
    • The two sisters could hardly have been more different, one so boisterous and expressive, the other so taciturn and calm.
  • *

    • Synonyms

    * (silent) reticent, untalkative * See also

    Antonyms

    * (silent) garrulous, loquacious

    Derived terms

    * taciturnity * taciturnly

    Related terms

    * tacit * tacitly * tacitness

    Anagrams

    * ----

    reticence

    English

    Noun

  • tight-lippedness, discretion, avoidance of saying too much
  • a silent and reserved nature

    • Quotations

    * 1890 , Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray : *:Basil's absurd fits of jealousy, his wild devotion, his extravagant panegyrics, his curious reticences , — he understood them all now, and he felt sorry. * 1897 , Bram Stoker, Dracula : *: You must not be angry with him, Art, because his very reticence means that all his brains are working for her good.(attention)

    Synonyms

    * reserve, secrecy, taciturnity * bashfulness, demureness, diffidence, quietness, reservation, shyness, timidity

    Antonyms

    * openness, talkativeness * loquaciousness, ostentation

    Related terms

    * reticent, reticently