Inclined to keep one's emotions close to the chest

The answer to “Inclined to keep one's emotions close to the chest” in the New York Times Midi crossword is RETICENT — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on July 26, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 13-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Inclined to keep one's emotions close to the chest” answer

RETICENT (8 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is RETICENT.

Why the answer is RETICENT

Sometimes, it's wise to hold back your thoughts and feelings. 🤫

What does RETICENT mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of RETICENT is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

When else has “Inclined to keep one's emotions close to the chest” appeared?

New York Times Midi reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

July 26, 2026 (most recent) → RETICENT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

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