Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective diffident contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of diffident are bashful, coy, modest, and shy. While all these words mean "not inclined to be forward," diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking.

felt diffident about raising an objection

When would bashful be a good substitute for diffident?

Although the words bashful and diffident have much in common, bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.

a bashful boy out on his first date

Where would coy be a reasonable alternative to diffident?

The meanings of coy and diffident largely overlap; however, coy implies a pretended shyness.

put off by her coy manner

In what contexts can modest take the place of diffident?

The synonyms modest and diffident are sometimes interchangeable, but modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.

modest about her success

When can shy be used instead of diffident?

In some situations, the words shy and diffident are roughly equivalent. However, shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

shy with strangers

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of diffident In the new film Hot Milk, the sensual but diffident 20-something Sofia (Emma Mackey) travels with her invalid mother, Rose (Fiona Shaw), to the Mediterranean shores of Spain in search of an experimental cure for the latter’s (possibly hypochondriac) illness. Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025 Today, they’re considered all-time greats, geniuses of melody and tension and originators of the diffident, philosophical mode that came to dominate American guitar rock in the new century. Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025 Having travelled to Rome, Fuller struck up a romance with a skinny, diffident twenty-six-year-old named Giovanni Angelo Ossoli. James Marcus, New Yorker, 2 June 2025 Its complacency was personified by the Gandhi family, whose members dominated the Party but appeared diffident and out of touch. Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 Only a monumental defeat could stop South Africa qualifying for the semifinals so there was a rather diffident air to proceedings. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 In 2022, Quan starred as Waymond Wang, a seemingly diffident husband who transforms into a martial arts expert when crossing multiverses to save his family in the Daniels’ wild and emotional film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2025 Consider Chatterton’s Fields of This, an exemplary case study, as the hazy slacker rock the Oxnard, California, duo of guitarist-keyboardist Brock Pierce and multi-instrumentalist Logan Scrivner dream up is brash yet diffident. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024 In the light of Rifkin’s diffident anguish, the heartfelt whimsy of these scenes plays like Allen’s own nostalgic reminiscence of his early, funny stuff—and of the way that his life used to be. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diffident
Adjective
  • Trump, who has never been shy about getting even with his enemies, even turned to the Justice Department.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2025
  • Clark finished with 32 points, three shy of her career high.
    Ben Pickman, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • Hayk, a withdrawn and aloof child, lives on a farm with his aunt Narine and gets mocked and called strange by others.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
  • For children, especially, these stressors can quickly lead to meltdowns or withdrawn behavior.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • But that hasn't stopped Chisholm, who is not bashful about adding chains and non-uniform colors to his look, from getting criticism.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • One time in particular, Fisher called him out for being a bit bashful about their Star Wars fame, Hamill recounted in a new interview on NPR's Fresh Air — like any good sister would.
    EW.com, EW.com, 4 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Diffident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diffident. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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