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

The circumstances are objectively potent — but Udofia smothers them in such a barrage of cutesiness and self-conscious signalling that a wall rises between us and the play. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Amid so much belabored meanness, meager appeals to conscience scan more like self-conscious obligation, easily subsumed by impotence. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

While the intentions may be good, these little dumbshow wanderings feel rather stiff and self-conscious. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

The term seems to imply a mastery of all the resources of a form, displayed in a surprising context without self-conscious artfulness. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for self-conscious

• conscious
• preconscious
• subconscious
• unconscious

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