un·de·mon·stra·tive

(ŭn′dĭ-mŏn′strə-tĭv)

adj.

Not disposed to expressions of feeling; reserved.

un′de·mon′stra·tive·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

undemonstrative

(ˌʌndɪˈmɒnstrətɪv)

adj

tending not to show the feelings; of a reserved nature

ˌundeˈmonstratively adv

ˌundeˈmonstrativeness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

un•de•mon•stra•tive

(ˌʌn dəˈmɒn strə tɪv)

adj.

not given to open expression of emotion; reserved or unresponsive.

[1840–50]

un`de•mon′stra•tive•ly, adv.

un`de•mon′stra•tive•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.

undemonstrative - not given to open expression of emotion

reserved - marked by self-restraint and reticence; "was habitually reserved in speech, withholding her opinion"-Victoria Sackville-West

demonstrative - given to or marked by the open expression of emotion; "an affectionate and demonstrative family"

undemonstrative

adjective reserved, formal, distant, stiff, contained, cold, withdrawn, restrained, aloof, reticent, impassive, unresponsive, stolid, unemotional, uncommunicative, unaffectionate Lady Ainslie is an undemonstrative woman.
warm, friendly, outgoing, demonstrative, emotional, affectionate, expressive, unreserved, overemotional

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

undemonstrative

adjective

Not friendly, sociable, or warm in manner:

aloof, chill, chilly, cool, distant, offish, remote, reserved, reticent, solitary, standoffish, unapproachable, uncommunicative, withdrawn.

Translations

undemonstrative

[ˈʌndɪˈmɒnstrətɪv] ADJ → poco expresivo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

undemonstrative

[ˌʌndɪˈmɒnstrətɪv] adj (= reserved) → réservé(e)

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

undemonstrative

adj → reserviert, zurückhaltend; a fairly undemonstrative race → ein Volk, das seine Gefühle wenig zeigt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

undemonstrative

[ˌʌndɪˈmɒnstrətɪv] adj → riservato/a, poco espansivo/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Utterson; for he was undemonstrative at the best, and even his friendship seemed to be founded in a similar catholicity of good-nature.

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He was a kindly, easy-going man; but, after the way of a large percentage of the Western stock, he was undemonstrative. He nodded, turned toward the door to obey, and paused irresolutely.

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Indeed, such was the native gush and play of her spirit, that she was seldom perfectly quiet and undemonstrative, any more than a fountain ever ceases to dimple and warble with its flow.

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Vanstone was habitually silent; Norah kept herself obstinately in the background; Magdalen was quiet and undemonstrative beyond all former precedent.

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Instead, he retired into himself, became sullen, undemonstrative, and, though he never cowered in defeat, and though he was always ready to snarl and bristle his hair in advertisement that inside he was himself and unconquered, he no longer burst out in furious anger.

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First, he was evidently a valuable possession of the master's, and next, he was undemonstrative. White Fang liked to lie at his feet on the wide porch when he read the newspaper, from time to time favouring White Fang with a look or a word--untroublesome tokens that he recognised White Fang's presence and existence.

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She was a fragile child, with mild gray eyes and a pale complexion; singularly undemonstrative, singularly shy and silent, except when she was alone with me.

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"You SHALL," repeated Mary, in the tone of undemonstrative sincerity which seemed natural to her.

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He could not help contrasting Katharine with his vision of the engaging, whimsical Cassandra; Katharine undemonstrative, inconsiderate, silent, and yet so notable that he could never do without her good opinion.

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He belonged to that small minority of undemonstrative retiring natures, who are always at peace with themselves, and who are conscious of a feeling of humiliation at the mere thought of making a request, no matter what its nature may be.

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Undemonstrative and burly in a fat-pig style, Mr Verloc, without either rubbing his hands with satisfaction or winking sceptically at his thoughts, proceeded on his way.

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Next morning MacWhirr stood before them unperturbed, having travelled from London by the midnight express after a sudden but undemonstrative parting with his wife.

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