undemonstrative

adjective

un·​de·​mon·​stra·​tive ˌən-di-ˈmän(t)-strə-tiv How to pronounce undemonstrative (audio)
: restrained in expression of feeling : reserved
undemonstratively adverb
undemonstrativeness noun

Examples of undemonstrative in a Sentence

His father was distant and undemonstrative. an undemonstrative person by nature, he nevertheless loved his wife very much
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Ritchson’s turn complements hers nicely, the actor letting his massive frame do the work for him as the taciturn, emotionally undemonstrative Ed who loves his children dearly and will do anything for them. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024 Time and again, this is how Shim gets around the dramatic difficulty of communicating the connection between such inherently undemonstrative, reserved characters. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 5 May 2023 The same was true of many other aristocratic children in Britain at that time, yet even friends of the young Queen (albeit it must be said not all of them) regarded her as a rather distant parent, undemonstrative with her maternal affection, not unlike her own mother. Time, 20 Sep. 2022 In the stages where Dana is absent — setting the already erratic Zátopek further off-kilter — Frecheville’s sweetly stoic, undemonstrative Clarke proves a different kind of foil, as the older runner attempts to pull him, at least a little, into his more casual, chaotic mindset. Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Aug. 2021 The life of the ultimate Robber Baron, Silicon Valley’s view of tomorrow, fresh fiction from a Nobel laureate and more. Honesty is perhaps the virtue that this novel, in its undemonstrative way, most extols. Sam Sacks, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Johnson is squarely undemonstrative, as well as something less than completely open. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 18 Apr. 2022 But his mother was the warmer presence; her husband was a wry but undemonstrative World War II veteran devoted to his family but preoccupied with keeping the business afloat and prone, in Mr. Graham’s early years, to drinking. New York Times, 14 Aug. 2021 The Tufan Derince Trio The Tufan Derince Trio was decidedly undemonstrative onstage, but its set of Kurdish wedding music was a whirlwind. Jon Pareles, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of undemonstrative was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near undemonstrative

Cite this Entry

“Undemonstrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undemonstrative. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

undemonstrative

adjective
un·​de·​mon·​stra·​tive ˌən-di-ˈmän(t)-strət-iv How to pronounce undemonstrative (audio)
: not demonstrative : reserved
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