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

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

That book should be read by anyone who wants his or her own life to be more Buffettesque, as measured by money or patience or self-deprecation or decency. — Gary Sernovitz, Bloomberg, 29 May 2026

And because Bargatze is usually the butt of his own jokes, his mix of aw-shucks relatability and self-deprecation goes down nice and easy. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026

Ellison even worked in some self-deprecation, referencing his 2006 big screen acting debut (and shouting out our publication). — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Apr. 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