réticent
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reluctant, hesitant, guarded, reserved
/ʁetisɑ̃/
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Holding back from assent or open speech.
Examples
Les habitants sont réticents devant ce projet.
The residents are hesitant about this project.
Sa réponse réticente ne disait pas tout.
His evasive answer did not tell the whole story.
Un silence réticent a suivi la question.
A guarded silence followed the question.
Même les plus réticents ont voté pour la mesure.
Even the most hesitant voted for the measure.
Il était réticent, mais il a fini par accepter.
He was reluctant, but eventually agreed.
Similar words
réservé
circonspect
secret
réservé
méfiant
discret
évasif
hésitant
Meanings
Examples
Elle reste réticente à signer le contrat.
She remains reluctant to sign the contract.
Les habitants sont réticents devant ce projet.
The residents are hesitant about this project.
Il était réticent, mais il a fini par accepter.
He was reluctant, but eventually agreed.
Je suis réticent à partager ces données.
I am reluctant to share this data.
Même les plus réticents ont voté pour la mesure.
Even the most hesitant voted for the measure.
Similar words
hésitant
réservé
circonspect
méfiant
Examples
Le témoin s’est montré réticent sur les détails.
The witness was guarded about the details.
Sa réponse réticente ne disait pas tout.
His evasive answer did not tell the whole story.
Elle était réticente à révéler le nom de la source.
She was unwilling to reveal the source’s name.
L’interlocuteur est resté réticent sur ce point.
The speaker remained reserved on this point.
Un silence réticent a suivi la question.
A guarded silence followed the question.
Similar words
secret
discret
réservé
évasif
FAQ
What does réticent usually mean?
Hesitant or unwilling to agree or act.
What construction follows it?
Often réticent à plus an infinitive.
Yes, it may describe someone unwilling to say everything.
Is that second use common?
It is more literary than the ordinary “hesitant” sense.
What is the feminine form?
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