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In the dictionary reserved means - not revealing emotions and formal means - prim or stiff. I saw they were synonym in the Google dictionary. What makes these two words similar, I wonder?

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    In formal settings, the etiquette was one of not showing your emotions, i.e. of being reserved. Formal = "done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette" and that etiquette used to require suppression of emotions.
    – DyingIsFun
    Commented Jan 17, 2017 at 16:31
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    What is 'the dictionary'? Are they all the same?
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jan 17, 2017 at 17:22
  • There are very few synonyms where the two terms are equivalent in all senses.
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 1:46
  • The two expressions are only synonyms in some senses. There are plenty of people who wear informal clothes and speak in an informal manner but reveal very little about themselves. In contrast the Oscar ceremonies are very formal in both organisation and dress but there's often a bit of emotion on show.
    – BoldBen
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 7:36

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Reserved means "tending to keep your feelings or thoughts private rather than showing them," while formal can mean "correct or conservative in style, and appropriate for official or serious situations or occasions." The words are related in that someone who is formal by nature or upbringing will also likely tend to be reserved. They are not "true synonyms," however, in that they are not interchangeable but are related in terms of manners and comportment. See the linked definition of synonym at merriam-webster.com.

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  • What are 'true synonyms'? The only useful definition for synonym[s] I've seen given on ELU (and it's not, to my knowledge, been challenged) is 'two or more words having the same or very nearly the same meaning in at least some of their senses'.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jan 17, 2017 at 17:24
  • Just FYI: Google Dictionary borrows definitions from ODO most of the time.
    – NVZ ♦
    Commented Jan 17, 2017 at 18:59
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    @Edwin, I agree. I've now put the term "true synonyms" in quotes (with a link to a dictionary.com blog post that argues there is no such thing), but I can't speak for the creators of the Google dictionary. Should I remove the word "true" from my answer? Wouldn't it be presumptuous of me to claim the Google dictionary is wrong?
    – Mark Hubbard
    Commented Jan 17, 2017 at 19:37
  • if we consider this definition of 'informal' -having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style, manner, or nature- it sort of casts a bit more flavor on what formal "is not"
    – Tom22
    Commented Jan 17, 2017 at 23:51
  • The M-W definition (which I'm glad to find) is the one not to argue with. The term 'synonym' becomes useless if all the conditions your linked article (which is very good apart from terminology) mentions are demanded. // 'Not always interchangeable' expresses the idea.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 0:11

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