self-esteem
noun
self-es·teem
ˌself-ə-ˈstēm 
1
: a confidence and satisfaction in oneself : self-respect
2
Examples of self-esteem in a Sentence
friends and family have tried to help the shy child develop some self-esteem
his towering self-esteem made praise from other people entirely unnecessary
the kind of self-esteem that a struggling actor needs to keep going in the face of constant discouragement and rejection
Recent Examples on the Web
Sleep disorders and fibromyalgia diagnoses also appear to be elevated among women with ADHD, as does low self-esteem more generally.
—
Daliah Singer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2025
Everyone there loves to party, except for Saira (Shabana Azeez), the ruling queens’ only daughter, a sheepish 23-year-old with extreme self-esteem issues.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 8 July 2025
The cultural shift back towards thinness is impacting our collective self-esteem and speaking about it openly helps break the silence and shame that often surrounds those feelings.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Chronic people-pleasing in children can lead to low self-esteem, identity confusion, and difficulty setting healthy boundaries.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Daliah Singer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2025
Everyone there loves to party, except for Saira (Shabana Azeez), the ruling queens’ only daughter, a sheepish 23-year-old with extreme self-esteem issues.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 8 July 2025
The cultural shift back towards thinness is impacting our collective self-esteem and speaking about it openly helps break the silence and shame that often surrounds those feelings.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Chronic people-pleasing in children can lead to low self-esteem, identity confusion, and difficulty setting healthy boundaries.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
Cite this Entry
“Self-esteem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-esteem. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share