Synonyms for taciturn
- adjective
Most common
silent reticent laconic uncommunicative reserved mute secretive untalkative
All synonyms
Adjective
reticent, laconic, silent, uncommunicative, reserved, quiet, secretive, mute, untalkative, close, speechless, unloquacious, nontalkative, dumb dated
Definitions
- adj. 1
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.
Choose the right word
Dumb, mute, silent and speechless refer to fact or state; taciturn refers to habit and disposition. One who is silent does not speak at all; one who is taciturn speaks when compelled, but in a grudging way that repels further approach.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- silent As he didn't know what to say, he remained silent.
- reticent He is reticent and he never speaks unless spoken to.
- laconic "The game's afoot" is Holmes's laconic call to action.
- uncommunicative She's a proper chatterbox, whereas her husband is downright uncommunicative.
- reserved These seats are reserved for old and sick people.
- mute Mute people can communicate using sign language.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| taciturn | rising | |
| silent | rising | |
| reticent | rising | |
| laconic | steady | |
| uncommunicative | steady | |
| reserved | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- dumb1, mute1
- 5 letters
- close1, quiet2
- 6 letters
- silent2
- 7 letters
- laconic3
- 8 letters
- reserved2, reticent3
- 9 letters
- secretive3
- 10 letters
- speechless2
- 11 letters
- untalkative
- 12 letters
- unloquacious, nontalkative
- 15 letters
- uncommunicative
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (quiet2 = 2 syllables).