In order to keep his original idea from being copied, Henry resorted to reticence.
Source: tatoeba (1980)
Reticence
/ˈɹɛtɪs(ə)ns/
Synonyms for "reticence" (84 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (17)
Noun(9 words)
Strong matches (25)
Noun(10 words)
Adjective(1 words)
intense aversion
Related words (42)
Noun(21 words)
lockjawmodestnessmummutednessmutismnorwegian passivitetprivatenessreluctanceremain silentrestraintsecretivenessselfeffacementshynesssilenceskulkingsocial withdrawalspeech hesitancysullennesstaciturnityunsharing
Show 1 more word
Adjective(1 words)
low sociability
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: reserve, aloofness, aversions, backwardness, bashfulness.
- Sentence evidence is available for reticence, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "reticence".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "reticence"
Keep "reticence" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "reticence" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "reticence", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "reticence" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
4 entriesCollocations
6 entriesacademic reticencemarked reticencenotable reticenceprofessional reticencepublic reticencesubstantial reticence
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
25 total sentences available.
I like him all the more for his reticence.
Source: tatoeba (322781)
The reader may set me down as a hopeless busybody, when I confess how much this man stimulated my curiosity, and how often I endeavoured to break through the reticence which he showed on all that concerned himself.
Source: tatoeba (6301688)
We outline root causes that contribute to employees' reticence to speak up, such as the perception that management won't act on their views or the fear of retaliation during the performance management process.
Source: tatoeba (12129002)
Showing 4 of 25 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "reticence"?
Closest matches include reserve, aloofness, aversions, backwardness, bashfulness.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "reticence"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.