GRE Words for Quiet and Reserved

These 5 GRE words all share the meaning of quiet and reserved. Studying them as one cluster is far more efficient than learning each in isolation, because the GRE tests words by how they relate to each other. Each entry below links to a full definition page with example sentences and memory hooks.

Why this cluster matters

On Sentence Equivalence you must choose two words that give the sentence the same meaning. That means the answer is almost always a synonym pair pulled from a cluster like this one. Watch the connotation tone on each word: a positive and a negative word rarely form a correct pair, even when their definitions look close.

The 5 words

curtadjectiveNegative tone

Rudely brief or abrupt in speech or manner

reservedadjectiveNeutral tone

Slow to reveal emotion or opinions; reticent

reticentadjectiveNegative tone

Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; reserved

taciturnadjectiveNegative tone

Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little

uncommunicativeadjectiveNegative tone

Unwilling to talk or give out information

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