diffident

dif·fi·dent

adj \ˈdi-fə-dənt, -ˌdent\

Definition of DIFFIDENT

1

: hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence

2

archaic : distrustful

3

: reserved, unassertive

— dif·fi·dent·ly adverb

Examples of DIFFIDENT

1. She was diffident about stating her opinion.
2. <for someone who makes a living performing for other people, the actress is remarkably diffident in real life>
3. Being suspicious of conventions, demotic equals were often at a loss in their daily encounters: shall one act diffident or clamant of one's rights? —Jacques Barzun, From Dawn to Decadence, 2000
4. Whatever made him diffident at the prospect of having a military strike ordered in his defense, he kept it to himself. —George Stephanopoulos, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 1999
5. “It's Indianapolis 500,“ Andrew said with a polite smile, pleasing me with his diffident correction. —Camille Minichino, The Lithium Murder, 1999
6. … a boy of 8 or 13, gazing foursquare at the camera, diffident but showing off, petulant but vulnerable … —Walker Percy, New York Times Book Review, 11 Oct. 1987

Origin of DIFFIDENT

Middle English, from Latin diffident-, diffidens, present participle of diffidere to distrust, from dis- + fidere to trust — more at bide

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DIFFIDENT

Synonyms: backward, bashful, coy, demure, shy, introverted, modest, recessive, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish, withdrawn

Antonyms: extroverted (also extraverted), immodest, outgoing

Related Words: antisocial, lone, lone-wolf, unsociable, unsocial; awkward, embarrassed, self-conscious, unadventurous, unassertive, unenterprising; inhibited, reserved, uneasy, uptight

Near Antonyms: boon, clubbable (also clubable), companionable, convivial, gregarious, sociable, social; bold, dashing, forceful; brash, forward, overbold, uninhibited, unreserved

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See Synonym Discussion at shy

Rhymes with DIFFIDENT

accident, aliment, Blaenau Gwent, circumvent, compartment, complement, compliment, confident, devilment, discontent, document, evident, heaven-sent, implement, incident, instrument, Jack-a-Lent, malcontent, nonevent, Occident, ornament, orient, provident, regiment, reinvent, represent, re-present, resident, Saint-Laurent, sediment, self-content, subsequent, supplement