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
Many of his opinions are unorthodox and expressed with a freewheeling exuberance generally unknown in a profession—classical-music criticism—that is normally self-effacing and respectful, if not carpet-slipper timid and dull.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
Ed Ulbrich is fairly self-effacing about his calling as a builder of bridges between entertainment and technology.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for self-effacing
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Denby, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
Ed Ulbrich is fairly self-effacing about his calling as a builder of bridges between entertainment and technology.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 July 2025
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
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 31 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share