reluctant vs reticent
reluctant
Definitions
adjective
- unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
- disinclined to become involved
- not eager
Examples
They may also be friends of the chairman, so they are reluctant to upset the applecart.
In fact, I found myself reluctant to skip any topic in the book.
It's amazing how many reluctant spouses become addicted after this gentle introduction.
reticent
Definitions
adjective
- reluctant to draw attention to yourself
- cool and formal in manner
- temperamentally disinclined to talk
Examples
BRODY: They had to deal with that, and so they're reticent to a certain degree to kind of delve into some of the faith issues as it relates to the political environment, if you will, because they know that he can get a lot of backlash.
During my brilliant interview, my philologist was a bit reticent.
The British are still reticent about their deepest fears - class war, a reversion to economic feudalism, the spectre of an all-dominant and all-vapid consumer society.
