- Today's Word
Reticent
RET-ih-sent
Definition
(adjective) Reluctant to speak or reveal one’s thoughts or feelings.
Example
He was reticent during the interview, offering only brief replies.
Fun Fact
Although reticent originally meant simply “silent,” its modern use is richer—it signals someone who’s hesitant to speak, often due to personal boundaries, social anxiety, or strategic restraint. In legal contexts, reticent witnesses might be protecting themselves. In fiction, reticent characters often hold secrets. It’s a favorite word when someone’s silence says more than words ever could.
(adjective) Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior; strictly attentive to rules and etiquette
The punctilious editor caught every misplaced comma and inconsistent font size before the report went to print.
Punctilious derives from the Italian puntiglio and Spanish puntillo, both meaning “a fine point” — diminutives of punto, meaning “point,” from the Latin punctum. It entered English in the 17th century to describe someone obsessively attentive to the fine points of conduct, protocol, and procedure.