reticence
nounUK /ˈrɛtɪsəns/
US /ˈrɛtəsəns/
The habit of not saying much about what you think or feel.
His reticence made it hard for his friends to know what he was thinking.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A refusal to speak about a particular subject.
Her reticence about the accident worried her family.
3. The quality of being reluctant to act or get involved.
The committee showed reticence to approve the new plan.
4. A short pause before answering, showing careful thought.
After a moment of reticence, she gave her answer.