reticence Definition

reticent
adj

1. Not saying very much.
2. Not willing to communicate; reserved.

Thesaurus: closed-mouthed, tight-lipped, close-lipped, silent, taciturn, mute, reserved, restrained, uncommunicative, unforthcoming, quiet, secretive; Antonym: forward, frank.
3. Not communicating everything that one knows.

Derivative: reticence
noun

The quality of being reticent
Thesaurus: silence, reserve, taciturnity, restraint, diffidence, quietness, closeness, muteness, shyness; Antonym: forwardness, frankness.

Derivative: reticently
adverb

Etymology: 19c: from Latin reticere to keep silent, from tacere to be silent.