Definition of diffidence
: the quality or state of being unassertive or bashful : the quality or state of being diffident
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Recent Examples of diffidence from the Web
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The failure of Jimmy Carter’s one term in office (the product of a combination of his own shortcomings, congressional diffidence, and energy shocks engineered by OPEC) became a central theme of Republican messaging for decades.
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Truthful to Julie's pre-feminist heart, Mueller adopts a tender diffidence.
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To him, my diffidence may as well be a foreign language.
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The decision to sack Rex Tillerson on Tuesday morning, without telling him face-to-face, is -- as of this hour -- the most glaring example of Trump's sudden-onset diffidence.
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His diffidence blends well with his shambling characterization and Ford’s unhurried tempo.
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But the government’s blatant bias during the campaign was at odds with this apparent diffidence.
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But in an administration where diffidence can be as contemptible as disloyalty, Tillerson’s retiring leadership style threatens to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
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But Ross’s own diffidence and her belief in collaboration also kept her work in the shadows.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diffidence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of diffidence
Middle English dyffidence, borrowed from Latin diffīdentia, from diffīdent-, diffīdens "distrustful, diffident" + -ia 1-ia
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First Known Use: 15th century
in the meaning defined above
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See words that rhyme with diffidence Spanish Central: Translation of diffidence Nglish: Translation of diffidence for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of diffidence for Arabic speakers
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