undemonstrative
adjective
un·de·mon·stra·tive
ˌən-di-ˈmän(t)-strə-tiv 
: restrained in expression of feeling : reserved
undemonstratively
adverb
undemonstrativeness
noun
Synonyms
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
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
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'undemonstrative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near undemonstrative
Cite this Entry
“Undemonstrative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undemonstrative. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
undemonstrative
adjective
un·de·mon·stra·tive
ˌən-di-ˈmän(t)-strət-iv
: not demonstrative : reserved
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