SINCE 1828
self-effacing
adjective
self-ef·fac·ing
| \ ˌself-i-ˈfā-siŋ
, -e-\
, -e-\
Definition of self-effacing
: 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 … 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
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for self-effacing
self-effacing
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of self-effacing
formal
: not trying to get attention or praise for yourself or your abilities
See the full definition for self-effacing in the English Language Learners Dictionary
Comments on self-effacing
What made you want to look up self-effacing? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Farm Idioms Quiz
-
- What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Farm Idioms Quiz
Not your children's farm quiz.
Take the quiz -
Up in the Sky: A Quiz
It's a bird? It's a plane? No, I'm really asking. What is it?
Take the quiz -
Name That Thing
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
Take the quiz -
Add Diction
Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.
Play the game
Share self-effacing
Resources for self-effacing