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
The quarterback has a self-effacing sense of humor and a goofy giggle that rang out several times in his postgame news conference.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Han has used centuries of philosophy to deconstruct the current ennui of life online, but Pettman’s writing is more personal and sympathetic than Han’s aphoristic, self-effacing mode.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
Jay is self-effacing about his success and only mildly patronizing to Tim, who’s now a child therapist.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Pamela is a self-effacing free spirit whose honesty and abandonment cast a spell on the embittered Wendall.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
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Matt Barrows, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Han has used centuries of philosophy to deconstruct the current ennui of life online, but Pettman’s writing is more personal and sympathetic than Han’s aphoristic, self-effacing mode.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
Jay is self-effacing about his success and only mildly patronizing to Tim, who’s now a child therapist.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Pamela is a self-effacing free spirit whose honesty and abandonment cast a spell on the embittered Wendall.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 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 18 Sep. 2025.
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