RESERVED Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'reserved' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of reserved are reticent , secretive , silent , and taciturn . While all these words mean "showing restraint in speaking," reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange. // greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

Q: When could 'reticent' be used to replace 'reserved'?

While the synonyms reticent and reserved are close in meaning, reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs. // was reticent about his plans

Q: When would 'secretive' be a good substitute for 'reserved'?

In some situations, the words secretive and reserved are roughly equivalent. However, secretive , too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal. // the secretive research and development division

Q: When is it sensible to use 'silent' instead of 'reserved'?

The meanings of silent and reserved largely overlap; however, silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed. // the strong, silent type

Q: Where would 'taciturn' be a reasonable alternative to 'reserved'?

While in some cases nearly identical to reserved , taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability. // taciturn villagers

reserved 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈzərvd

Definition of reserved

as in silent

tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) a reserved and shy person who was wrongly thought to be stuck-up until someone finally got into a conversation with her

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reserved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of reserve

as in booked

to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use we made sure to reserve a kennel for our dog several months before the start of the family vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in retained

to continue to have in one's possession or power I'm reserving the right to work by myself if you don't do your share of the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dedicated

to keep or intend for a special purpose we must reserve this cup for ceremonial use only

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word reserved distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of reserved are reticent, secretive, silent, and taciturn. While all these words mean "showing restraint in speaking," reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.

greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

When could reticent be used to replace reserved?

While the synonyms reticent and reserved are close in meaning, reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

When would secretive be a good substitute for reserved?

In some situations, the words secretive and reserved are roughly equivalent. However, secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal.

the secretive research and development division

When is it sensible to use silent instead of reserved?

The meanings of silent and reserved largely overlap; however, silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.

the strong, silent type

Where would taciturn be a reasonable alternative to reserved?

While in some cases nearly identical to reserved, taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.

taciturn villagers

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 reserved

Adjective

Strain cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer or a slotted spoon into reserved glass. — Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026 Here, passengers can enjoy reserved seating, extra legroom, and complimentary nonalcoholic beverages. — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

The remaining $27 million is reserved for capital projects like transmission system improvement and building part of a new tri-state regional water system. — Gabriel Brito, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Aug. 2026 The significant transfer outlay has not been reserved solely for the first team, however. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reserved

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reserved

Adjective

Don Henley compares the Eagles’ role there to the organist at a silent movie.

— Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
This was nearly a full day after the latest injury there, and park officials have remained silent about what necessitated the closure.

— Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of silent

Verb

Bevin was booked at Louisville Metro Corrections later in the evening after the arrest, according to jail records.

— Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2026
Soon-to-open is a spa on each wing of the hotel, which can be booked for exclusive use by any guest.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of booked

Verb

West Ham also retained club captain Jarrod Bowen, Taty Castellanos and Konstantinos Mavropanos, while Arne Engels, Manor Solomon, Joel Piroe and Divine Mukasa were their headline summer additions.

— Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Impressively, Fever retained the Dax's single-channel front ABS system by machining custom wheel-speed sensor discs and fabricating mounts for both the ABS module and the factory tip-over sensor.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of retained

Verb

Goldring's case was so complex, the organization sent Suzanne McGuire, a nurse who's dedicated her career to transplant coordination, to the University of Kentucky Transplant Center.

— Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026
The building was dedicated in 1893 after 40 years of construction.

— Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of dedicated

Verb

Production was kept under wraps entirely; Cohen reportedly showed up in character at Wimbledon this year without tipping off the film’s existence.

— Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2026
The 10-play scoring drive was possible in part because of a 17-yard pass from Hyppolite to Ty Hayes on fourth and 5 that kept the possession alive and moved them into the red zone.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of kept

Verb

Davis has been the star witness for Nevada prosecutors, who devoted large portions of their case to simply recounting things the murder suspect has said about the 1996 killing of the rap star during a drive-by shooting just off the Las Vegas Strip.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
In the later years of her life, Eastman settled in Montana and devoted herself to animal advocacy.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of devoted

Adjective

America’s Semiquincentennial was celebrated across the country this summer with big, dumb, gluttonous fun.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
But the attention on Cunningham’s comments, the contrived outrage over a fictional trans athlete draft and dumb stunts by former NBA players may have helped drive more folks toward watching the league’s games.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of dumb

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“Reserved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reserved. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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