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In its traditional sense, reticent means unwilling to communicate. Thus it is more nearly a synonym for silent than it is for reluctant: He was never reticent about wanting the job. It is, however, increasingly seen in contexts in which it conveys other kinds of reluctance: He was reticent to travel so much. Many regard this as a misuse, and in fact such usages tend to convey nothing that reluctant would not convey better.
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