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

Comedy is about self-deprecation, about showing vulnerability.

—David Moore

Examples of self-deprecation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sure, and that self-deprecation is also a fundamental principle of comedy and humor, which is a lot of what your stories are doing too. — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

The fascination persisted, though Burke often undercut it with humor and self-deprecation. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026

Both rejected the Canadian instinct for self-deprecation and smallness, proving that global success can be achieved from within Canada. — Kumaran Nadesan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

His style of self-deprecation was universal. — Austin Mullen, NBC news, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-deprecation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration