self-conscious

adjective

self-con·​scious ˌself-ˈkän(t)-shəs 

1

a

: conscious of one's own acts or states as belonging to or originating in oneself : aware of oneself as an individual

b

: intensely aware of oneself : conscious

a rising and self-conscious social class

also : produced or done with such awareness

self-conscious art

2

: uncomfortably conscious of oneself as an object of the observation of others : ill at ease

self-consciously adverb

self-consciousness noun

Examples of self-conscious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Initially, Greenlee was self-conscious about her scars, even bandaging her face before venturing out to watch Hopkins play. —Nasha Smith, People.com, 20 Oct. 2024

What’s more, teens are more likely to exhibit self-conscious behavior, and 1 in 5 parents share that their teens avoid being in photos. —Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 9 Oct. 2024

The typical Atay narrator is intelligent, brash, self-conscious, and male. —Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024

There's no evidence that Aykroyd was self-conscious about strutting around in a pair of denim cutoffs in front of the cast and crew, but the sketch he's shown rehearsing in the film is real. —Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

self-conscious

adjective

self-con·​scious

ˈself-ˈkän-chəs

: uncomfortably conscious of oneself as an object of the observation of others

self-consciously adverb

self-consciousness noun