incommunicative

[ in-kuh-myoo-ni-kuh-tiv, -key- ]

adjective

1. not communicative; reserved; uncommunicative.

incommunicative

/ ˌɪnkəˈmjuːnɪkətɪv /

adjective

1. tending not to communicate with others; taciturn

Derived Forms

• ˌincomˈmunicativeness, noun
• ˌincomˈmunicatively, adverb

Other Words From

• incom·muni·ca·tive·ly adverb
• incom·muni·ca·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of incommunicative¹

First recorded in 1660–70; in- ³ + communicative

Example Sentences

I certainly did not impose any unfair burden upon her incommunicative disposition.

From Project Gutenberg

When you met him on the stairs he was incommunicative and gloomy; and whatever you asked him to do he was too busy to do it.

From Project Gutenberg

The clerk found him to the last degree incommunicative; and nothing could be discovered from him but what the papers disclosed.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, I did not discover that Melindy could talk that day; she was very silent, very incommunicative.

From Project Gutenberg

How miserable, how deservedly miserable is an incommunicative selfishness!

From Project Gutenberg