self-effacing
adjective
self-ef·fac·ing
ˌself-i-ˈfā-siŋ 
-e-
: having or showing a tendency to make oneself modestly or shyly inconspicuous
His passions and faith run soul-deep, his gentle wit is always self-effacing and never insulting …—
Don Gaetz
Don Gaetz… she was an extremely self-effacing, private person who never sought the limelight and did not leave the usual artifacts that enable a biographer to reconstruct life patterns.—Douglas R. McManis
Douglas R. McManisExamples of self-effacing in a Sentence
he's dating a sweet, self-effacing girl
Recent Examples on the Web
As recently widowed Irene Chao, Liu trades her signature strut for a self-effacing shuffle, using makeup not to accentuate her beauty but to downplay it.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 June 2025
See more The sisters are funny and self-effacing in their delivery.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
The puppy-dog charisma that earned him unthreatening-heartthrob status at 23 has seasoned into a self-effacing, paternal affability.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 9 Apr. 2025
The daughter of film stars George O’Brien and Marguerite Churchill, Orin shows a contagious enthusiasm for her craft, wedded to a surprisingly self-effacing attitude (especially for someone held up and cut down as a leading woman in her field).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Mar. 2025
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Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 June 2025
See more The sisters are funny and self-effacing in their delivery.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
The puppy-dog charisma that earned him unthreatening-heartthrob status at 23 has seasoned into a self-effacing, paternal affability.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 9 Apr. 2025
The daughter of film stars George O’Brien and Marguerite Churchill, Orin shows a contagious enthusiasm for her craft, wedded to a surprisingly self-effacing attitude (especially for someone held up and cut down as a leading woman in her field).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-effacing
Cite this Entry
“Self-effacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-effacing. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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