self-deprecation
noun
self-dep·re·ca·tion
ˌself-de-pri-ˈkā-shən 
plural self-deprecations
: disparagement or undervaluation of oneself
On-camera and off, cheerful self-deprecation is the key to Hugh Grant's formidable charm.—
Leah Rozen
Leah RozenComedy is about self-deprecation, about showing vulnerability.—David Moore
David Moore
Examples of self-deprecation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In its self-deprecation, Anuncia cultivates plenty of delicate gestures but holds back from digging deeper.
—Vulture, 21 Nov. 2023
And even the most earnest self-deprecation can contain the seeds of vanity.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
Vivek Ramaswamy just tried a bit of self-deprecation, but Nikki Haley was having none of it.
—Aaron Zitner, WSJ, 28 Sep. 2023
Armed with a keen descriptive voice and a dash of self-deprecation, Jason Stewart manages to steer his way through.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 12 Sep. 2023
His self-deprecation drew immediate laughs and applause.
—Thomas Harding, Town & Country, 29 Aug. 2023
Marden was a complex mix of rigor and pragmatism with a penchant for wry self-deprecation.
—Roberta Smith, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023
With a welcome dose of self-deprecation, the script by Rowe, Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit recaps the reptiles’ backstory, the waits a beat.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 July 2023
But, when writing about her own life, Beach gets stuck in the mode of rote self-deprecation.
—Tyler Foggatt, The New Yorker, 19 July 2023
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Vulture, 21 Nov. 2023
And even the most earnest self-deprecation can contain the seeds of vanity.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
Vivek Ramaswamy just tried a bit of self-deprecation, but Nikki Haley was having none of it.
—Aaron Zitner, WSJ, 28 Sep. 2023
Armed with a keen descriptive voice and a dash of self-deprecation, Jason Stewart manages to steer his way through.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 12 Sep. 2023
His self-deprecation drew immediate laughs and applause.
—Thomas Harding, Town & Country, 29 Aug. 2023
Marden was a complex mix of rigor and pragmatism with a penchant for wry self-deprecation.
—Roberta Smith, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023
With a welcome dose of self-deprecation, the script by Rowe, Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit recaps the reptiles’ backstory, the waits a beat.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 July 2023
But, when writing about her own life, Beach gets stuck in the mode of rote self-deprecation.
—Tyler Foggatt, The New Yorker, 19 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-deprecation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1846, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near self-deprecation
Cite this Entry
“Self-deprecation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-deprecation. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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