1
as in silent
deliberately refraining from speech
the child was uncommunicative and unhelpful to school investigators
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in secretive
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge
intelligence agencies must be uncommunicative about their operations if they are to be at all effective
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)
resigned to the fact that her husband was always going to be an uncommunicative partner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of uncommunicative
Her older roommate, Prabha, whose uncommunicative husband now works in Germany, is lonely.
—
Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Sep. 2024
Me about uncommunicative guys who lack intent and she about self-sabotaging the nicest guy she’s ever dated.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 2 Sep. 2024
But the pathologically uncommunicative Wayne never seems all that happy about anything.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024
The most original piece of work in this volume is Matthew Evangelista's fascinating analysis of the transnational organizations -- such as Pugwash and the Palme Commission -- that kept dialogue alive during the more uncommunicative days of the Cold War.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2010
See All Example Sentences for uncommunicative
Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Sep. 2024
Me about uncommunicative guys who lack intent and she about self-sabotaging the nicest guy she’s ever dated.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 2 Sep. 2024
But the pathologically uncommunicative Wayne never seems all that happy about anything.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024
The most original piece of work in this volume is Matthew Evangelista's fascinating analysis of the transnational organizations -- such as Pugwash and the Palme Commission -- that kept dialogue alive during the more uncommunicative days of the Cold War.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2010
See All Example Sentences for uncommunicative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncommunicative
Adjective
-
So far, the ESA has been silent on Trump excluding video game consoles from his tariff exemptions.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The Taliban are also silent on the other restrictions and whether there is any chance of removing them.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump was notoriously secretive about his health during his first term and did not release any recent medical records as part of his 2024 campaign — even after a July assassination attempt, in which a bullet struck his ear.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
He's investigated the hidden offshore wealth of Russian oligarchs, billions of dollars in assets held offshore by a member of the Adani family and the Adani Group, and the maze of corporate structures and secretive inner circle of crypto giant Binance.—
Giacomo Tognini,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
At the start of episode 8, Cara, a reserved 29-year-old In-N-Out worker, had the cash in her box, while her bestie Samantha, a 41-year-old cop pretending to be a stay-at-home mom, had a clue that the secret millionaire was someone with two sisters.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Without trust, teams experience: • Communication Breakdowns: Team members become reserved and hesitant to provide feedback or voice concerns.—
Dr. Jennifer Bryant,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In helicopter video taken by Air Maui Helicopter Tours in Lahaina and posted online the people aboard are largely speechless.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC News,
10 Aug. 2023
-
Because his work, as is often the case, leaves us almost speechless.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Today By Paulina Berges Nestled within Okazaki on a quiet residential road, Shinsho-an feels more like a private home than a hotel.—
Christina Liao,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
-
And in a culture that often asks women to go faster, do more, and present themselves perfectly, the act of cooking something small and lovely—just because—is its own quiet form of resistance.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
-
Legend in the making: Kelsie Domer of Dublin On the other end of the competitor spectrum is Kelsie Domer, a breakaway roper who is reticent to make brash predictions, but whose résumé speaks for itself.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2025
-
And in the absence of a crisis, Washington’s partners will likely be reticent to join in.—
Stephen G. Brooks,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
And Amanda Marsalis and April Blair are some of my closest friends now.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Famous detective Sherlock Holmes faces a case where the lives of his closest friends are at risk.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Uncommunicative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncommunicative. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share