Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective diffident contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of diffident are bashful, coy, modest, and shy. While all these words mean "not inclined to be forward," diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking.

felt diffident about raising an objection

When would bashful be a good substitute for diffident?

Although the words bashful and diffident have much in common, bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.

a bashful boy out on his first date

Where would coy be a reasonable alternative to diffident?

The meanings of coy and diffident largely overlap; however, coy implies a pretended shyness.

put off by her coy manner

In what contexts can modest take the place of diffident?

The synonyms modest and diffident are sometimes interchangeable, but modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.

modest about her success

When can shy be used instead of diffident?

In some situations, the words shy and diffident are roughly equivalent. However, shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

shy with strangers

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of diffident In the new film Hot Milk, the sensual but diffident 20-something Sofia (Emma Mackey) travels with her invalid mother, Rose (Fiona Shaw), to the Mediterranean shores of Spain in search of an experimental cure for the latter’s (possibly hypochondriac) illness. Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025 Today, they’re considered all-time greats, geniuses of melody and tension and originators of the diffident, philosophical mode that came to dominate American guitar rock in the new century. Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025 Having travelled to Rome, Fuller struck up a romance with a skinny, diffident twenty-six-year-old named Giovanni Angelo Ossoli. James Marcus, New Yorker, 2 June 2025 Its complacency was personified by the Gandhi family, whose members dominated the Party but appeared diffident and out of touch. Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 Only a monumental defeat could stop South Africa qualifying for the semifinals so there was a rather diffident air to proceedings. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 In 2022, Quan starred as Waymond Wang, a seemingly diffident husband who transforms into a martial arts expert when crossing multiverses to save his family in the Daniels’ wild and emotional film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2025 Consider Chatterton’s Fields of This, an exemplary case study, as the hazy slacker rock the Oxnard, California, duo of guitarist-keyboardist Brock Pierce and multi-instrumentalist Logan Scrivner dream up is brash yet diffident. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024 In the light of Rifkin’s diffident anguish, the heartfelt whimsy of these scenes plays like Allen’s own nostalgic reminiscence of his early, funny stuff—and of the way that his life used to be. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diffident
Adjective
  • Guests did not shy from donning some of the designer’s more out-there creations.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
  • Talk about Travis Scott starts just shy of the 1:30 mark.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Often, people that indulge in this type of culture are considered anti-social or withdrawn, a stereotype that has been passed around for years.
    Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025
  • People become irritable, withdrawn, or hyper-independent.
    Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • There are dozens of people screaming his name and the young Ronaldo appears bashful and shy.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • But that hasn't stopped Chisholm, who is not bashful about adding chains and non-uniform colors to his look, from getting criticism.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Diffident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diffident. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on diffident

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!