undemonstrative
/ʌndɪˈmɒnstrətɪv
/adjective
(Of a person) not tending to express feelings, especially of affection, openly: the English are an undemonstrative lot...
- He is undemonstrative, self-controlled and, in his radio and TV interviews, comes across as a man of sweet reason while answering questions in a deep, well-modulated voice.
- Both fell in love with a man who had suffered a lonely upbringing by distant and undemonstrative parents.
- Mr Keston, a neat, undemonstrative figure in his blue shirt, dark blue jacket, tie and spectacles, will not be taking a radical brush to the Theatre Royal, where any cobwebs have been removed over the past decade.
Synonyms
unemotional, unaffectionate, impassive, dispassionate;
self-contained, restrained, reserved, unresponsive, unmoved, unloving, unfriendly, unfeeling, passionless, wooden, uncommunicative, unforthcoming, sober, stiff, reticent, guarded, secretive, close, taciturn, aloof, distant, detached, remote, withdrawn;
cool, cold, cold-blooded, chilly, frosty, frigid, glacial
informal stand-offish, offish
Derivatives
undemonstratively
- So they simply, undemonstratively let it be known that, though they are not making too much fuss about it, they, too, are victims.
- We'd fought a people's war: he now undemonstratively gave us a people's peace.
- Calm and undemonstratively poised, the subject is depicted as one who is utterly unassuming in his sense of self.
undemonstrativeness
- The disadvantage is undemonstrativeness and lack of emotion.
- But he still designs solidly conservative programs, he still blends undemonstrativeness with unexpected passion and he still gets his orchestra to play beautifully.
- They were puzzled at the undemonstrativeness of the conquered people and thought them strangely sullen.