Meaning & use
taciturn
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Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Having a natural habit of speaking very little, so that you seem quiet, reserved or hard to draw into conversation.
Grammar: Describes a person's usual character: a taciturn farmer; it can also follow a linking verb: he is taciturn.
Patterns
- taciturn by nature
- a taciturn man
My grandfather was a taciturn man who rarely said more than a few words at dinner.
The taciturn driver answered every question with a nod.
She grew taciturn after the argument and stared out of the window.
Word forms
| comparative | more taciturn |
|---|---|
| superlative | most taciturn |
Common combinations
- a taciturn man
- He was a taciturn man, famous for long silences.
- taciturn by nature
- Though taciturn by nature, she lit up when talking about birds.
- remain taciturn
- The witness remained taciturn throughout the interview.
- a taciturn expression
- His taciturn expression gave nothing away.
- strangely taciturn
- The usually chatty boy was strangely taciturn on the ride home.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reserved
- Reserved suggests someone who holds back feelings politely, while taciturn stresses saying very little.
- reticent
- Reticent often means unwilling to speak about a particular matter, whereas taciturn describes general quietness.
- uncommunicative
- Uncommunicative is more neutral and may describe a temporary refusal to share, while taciturn points to a lasting trait.
- quiet
- Quiet is gentle and often positive, but taciturn can sound a little cold or unfriendly.
Opposites
Word family
- taciturnity noun
- the quality of saying very little
- taciturnly adverb
- in a silent, reserved way
- tacit adjective
- understood without being spoken
Commonly confused: taciturn or tacit?
taciturn vs tacit
Tacit describes things understood without words, such as a tacit agreement, whereas taciturn describes a person who seldom talks.
Practice
The shop owner was so ______ that customers often left without hearing a single greeting.
Choose one answer.
Taciturn means saying very little by habit. Gregarious and talkative both describe the opposite, and hospitable is about welcoming guests rather than speech.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “taciturn”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.