as in reluctance
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something
the publisher's reticence to make content available online for free
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Recent Examples of reticence
Such reticence was already present during Trump’s first term.
—
Peter Schroeder, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
This posture may have at least made some political sense in the early days of the war, but Netanyahu soon understood that Biden's reticence to restrain him had the effect of legitimizing blind vengeance as policy.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Barry has criticized Green’s record on reproductive healthcare issues and his initial reticence to run for reelection.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 1 Nov. 2024
After some initial reticence, the artists (including Gavin Turk, Geraldine Swayne, Jonathan Yeo, Marcus Harvey, Nettie Wakefield, James White and Will Ayres) responded enthusiastically to Rob and Nick Carter’s brief, resulting in a visually rich and stimulating exhibition.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reticence 
Peter Schroeder, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
This posture may have at least made some political sense in the early days of the war, but Netanyahu soon understood that Biden's reticence to restrain him had the effect of legitimizing blind vengeance as policy.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Barry has criticized Green’s record on reproductive healthcare issues and his initial reticence to run for reelection.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 1 Nov. 2024
After some initial reticence, the artists (including Gavin Turk, Geraldine Swayne, Jonathan Yeo, Marcus Harvey, Nettie Wakefield, James White and Will Ayres) responded enthusiastically to Rob and Nick Carter’s brief, resulting in a visually rich and stimulating exhibition.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reticence
Thesaurus Entries Near reticence
Cite this Entry
“Reticence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reticence. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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