as in timidity
the quality or state of lacking confidence or assertiveness
He met the girl's gaze with awkward diffidence.
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Recent Examples of diffidence
At its best, the uncomfortably intimate aesthetic of the films combined with the general diffidence at their heart attempted to epitomize a generational temperament and linguistic sensibility.
—
Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
Over the last few decades, several U.S. administrations have prioritized the relationship with India despite considerable diffidence on the part of New Delhi.
—Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023
Weaver brings a deceptive diffidence to Shelly, and Coleman is suitably enigmatic as V. Stiviano, a paragon of modern fameosexual ambition.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 3 June 2024
Norman Mailer wrote with an unstable mixture of self-indulgence and self-awareness, bravado and diffidence, glibness and bracing honesty, macho posturing and an almost sheepish gentleness.
—Andrew Delbanco, The New York Review of Books, 28 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for diffidence
Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
Over the last few decades, several U.S. administrations have prioritized the relationship with India despite considerable diffidence on the part of New Delhi.
—Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023
Weaver brings a deceptive diffidence to Shelly, and Coleman is suitably enigmatic as V. Stiviano, a paragon of modern fameosexual ambition.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 3 June 2024
Norman Mailer wrote with an unstable mixture of self-indulgence and self-awareness, bravado and diffidence, glibness and bracing honesty, macho posturing and an almost sheepish gentleness.
—Andrew Delbanco, The New York Review of Books, 28 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for diffidence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diffidence
Noun
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Flick through the old programmes now and, for almost every game, there is another write-up about Kaminsky’s goal-scoring exploits for Archie Gemmill’s reserve team or the under-18s side, coached by John Perkins and Paul Hart, that won the Midlands Purity Youth League in successive seasons.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
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More than half of global copper reserves are said to be located in just five countries — Chile, Australia, Peru, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Russia.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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However, a pick for Chimaev to win via early submission is not out of line.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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Some 80 submissions responded to Sanfic Lab’s Open Call, making selection even more daunting.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Diffidence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diffidence. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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