Looking for a word to describe telling somebody only part of something because of insecurities

I’m trying to think of a word that would mean how something is being told. The situation would be in prior communications the first person would only be telling the second person selective information due to anxiety about telling them honestly what they truly felt now the first person is going to tell the other person things honestly and completely

Sentence where word needs to be “For once I’m trying to tell you just what it is I truly think and feel instead of the_______________ the things I told you before” Or a sentence with similar meaning

I’ve tried obscured, vailed, biased, influenced, objective, pointed, particular... but none of them seem to convey exactly what it is I’m trying to say as far as the previous things were only what the first person decided to tell the second due to how much anxiety influenced what was told or not I just feel like there has to be a perfect word to express their complete and honest thoughts unlike their prior ____________ ones

(Sorry if this question is confusing or overly unexplained I feel like I’ve worked my brain into a jumbled knot trying to puzzle this out on my own for like almost an hour)


Solution 1:

Someone who avoids telling a complete information about themselves out of insecurity sounds cagey. Oxford English Dictionary gives one definition, noting that it is colloquial:

colloquial (originally U.S.). Not forthcoming, reticent, wary, non-committal.

One of the examples shows the word used to apply to being non-committal about information related to an event. Someone giving selective information for whatever reason could be called cagey:

1953 G. Heyer Detection Unlimited iii. 31 Aunt Miriam's always a bit cagy about it. What happened?

Here's a list item from an Elite Daily article (Sarah Ellis, "4 Signs Of Avoidant Attachment You Can Spot On A First Date") about dating that captures how the word can be used to describe dating partners who hold back, either due to insecurity or some other emotion:

  1. They’re cagey about sharing their feelings.

On a great first date, the conversation should flow easily and naturally. If you feel like they’re hiding things from you, that doesn’t lay the groundwork for a successful relationship down the road.

Solution 2:

Perhaps cautious or wary?

Cautious (adj) very careful about what you do or say and unwilling to take risks because you want to avoid possible problems.
[Cambridge English Dictionary]

Example: For once I’m trying to tell you just what it is I truly think and feel instead of the cautious things I told you before.


Or try saying Instead of saying exactly what I think, I’ve been curating my words to protect myself from saying the wrong thing

Solution 3:

How about some form of filter? From M-W:

filter: something that has the effect of a filter (as by holding back elements or modifying the appearance of something)

filter: to subject to the action of a filter

The first person was filtering their communications with the second person to avoid potential upset. The first person is now going to communicate unfiltered, i.e., the first person is now going to communicate with the second person without the "potential upset" filter.

Also, if you are interested in idioms, the first person is no longer going to walk on eggshells. From The Free Dictionary:

walk on eggshells: To act with great care and consideration so as not to upset someone.

Solution 4:

Cagey has already been mentioned.

In addition to that, there are:

discreet - Having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech, esp. capable of preserving prudent silence.

guarded - On one's guard; esp. (of speech, behaviour, etc.) careful, cautious, unrevealing, non-committal. [source - SOED]