self-doubt

noun

ˌself-ˈdau̇t 

plural self-doubts

: a lack of faith in oneself : a feeling of doubt or uncertainty about one's abilities, actions, etc.

plagued with/by self-doubt

overcame her self-doubts

The man who comes through the pages of this straightforwardly written autobiography is eminently human, full of self-doubt about his personal life and his career …

—Walter Goodman

Examples of self-doubt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Judgement card suggests a reckoning, a powerful wake-up call to rise into your purpose and release guilt, regret, or self-doubt. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025

Fatigue, pain, neurological symptoms—especially when invisible—are often minimized or dismissed, reinforcing a cycle of self-doubt and delayed treatment. —Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 30 Apr. 2025

Venturing into unfamiliar territory can lead to self-doubt. —Yurii Zinchenko, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

The evening was supposed to be a casual get-together, but an offhand comment from her boyfriend’s mother turned what should have been a relaxed meal into a moment of self-doubt and discomfort. —Ashley Vega, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-doubt

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

self-doubt

noun

ˈself-ˈdau̇t

: a lack of faith in oneself

self-doubting

-iŋ

adjective