Taciturn
ˈtasəˌtərn
ADJECTIVE
(Of a person) Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
“Mr. Stevens was usually very taciturn, so when he spoke, we listened carefully.”
“I’m taciturn around people I don’t know well, but I’m chatty around my friends.”
“Being taciturn isn’t always a bad thing; I prefer to get my ideas across in writing.”
Word Origin
Latin, late 18th century
Why This Word?
"Taciturn" is an adjective commonly applied to a certain type of person — perhaps a curmudgeonly sort or a grump. Synonyms given in the thesaurus include "secretive," "withdrawn," "unsociable," and "sullen." ...