taciturn
5 synonyms and 5 antonyms for taciturn, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Saying very little by nature; habitually silent or reserved in speech.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use taciturn
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
taciturn man
naturally taciturn
taciturn and withdrawn
grow taciturn
Formal and literary; more common in writing than speech.
Etymology
From Latin taciturnus "not talkative", from tacitus "silent", from tacere "to be silent".
Full origin of taciturn →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between taciturn and shy?
Shyness is about anxiety around other people; a shy person may want to talk but finds it hard. A taciturn person is simply not inclined to speak much, and is often perfectly comfortable in company while saying almost nothing.
What is the difference between taciturn and laconic?
Taciturn describes how much someone speaks overall — very little. Laconic describes the style of what they do say: short, dry and to the point. A laconic remark can come from someone quite talkative.
Is taciturn negative?
It is mildly so. It usually suggests coldness, gloom or unhelpfulness rather than admirable restraint. If you mean the quality positively, "reserved" or "understated" is a friendlier choice.
