All 7 Uses of
reticent
in
Babbitt
- But the thing that marked her as having passed the line was that she no longer had reticences before her husband, and no longer worried about not having reticences.†
Chpt 1
- But the thing that marked her as having passed the line was that she no longer had reticences before her husband, and no longer worried about not having reticences.†
Chpt 1
- In the presence of the slight dark reticence of Paul Riesling, he was awkward, he desired to be quiet and firm and deft.†
Chpt 5
- "Yuh--" Then he was pouring it out nakedly, robbed of reticence.
Chpt 9 *reticence = reluctance
- The smart shopping-district, with rich and quiet light on crystal pendants and furs and suave surfaces of polished wood in velvet-hung reticent windows.†
Chpt 17
- After the civil farewell to the guests, the row was terrific, a thorough Family Scene, like an avalanche, devastating and without reticences.†
Chpt 18
- Though he no longer spoke of mechanical engineering and though he was reticent about his opinion of his instructors, he seemed no more reconciled to college, and his chief interest was his wireless telephone set.†
Chpt 34
Definition:
-
(reticent) reluctant -- especially to speak freelyeditor's notes: Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice):
Consider using taciturn rather than reticent when the reluctance to speak is a general disposition rather than a short-term situation brought about by particular circumstance.