as in diffident
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Recent Examples of self-critical
Unafraid to be self-critical, Fosse crafts a shockingly complex portrait of an artist whose perfectionism drives him to the brink.
—
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Jan. 2026
Hurts was notably self-critical of his performance in that game.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Brown, intensely studious and both self-confident and self-critical, no longer looks like someone who is thinking through four different possibilities, trying to fit into the scheme, before acting on the field.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Her protagonist, Maya, is a young woman with several life challenges including a heroin addiction, who has an introspective, self-critical attitude.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Instead, the song finds Charli being self-critical over how being in the orbit of a much famous singer (i.e. Swift) had negative effects on her mental health.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
In his voiceover, McElwee frequently addresses Adrian and eulogizes his memory, but also expresses self-critical ruminations about his part in his son’s death, how his filmmaking may have contributed to his shaky self-image and the growing distance between them.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
The first self-critical comment accomplishes those goals.
—Jay Sullivan, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Expect results or revelations now, and avoid being too self-critical.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 3 Aug. 2025
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Jan. 2026
Hurts was notably self-critical of his performance in that game.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Brown, intensely studious and both self-confident and self-critical, no longer looks like someone who is thinking through four different possibilities, trying to fit into the scheme, before acting on the field.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Her protagonist, Maya, is a young woman with several life challenges including a heroin addiction, who has an introspective, self-critical attitude.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Instead, the song finds Charli being self-critical over how being in the orbit of a much famous singer (i.e. Swift) had negative effects on her mental health.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
In his voiceover, McElwee frequently addresses Adrian and eulogizes his memory, but also expresses self-critical ruminations about his part in his son’s death, how his filmmaking may have contributed to his shaky self-image and the growing distance between them.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
The first self-critical comment accomplishes those goals.
—Jay Sullivan, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Expect results or revelations now, and avoid being too self-critical.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 3 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-critical
Adjective
-
This small, diffident moment is one more reason to mourn his death.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
Dosunmu always has taken an egoless approach to his role with the Bulls.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
-
With searing honesty, Keaton describes the rituals and emotions elicited by her eating disorder with egoless bravery.—
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
26 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
His hope is to create a new incentive for these timid business leaders, by wiping out a quarter billion or more from their combined market cap.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
At the heart of the series is Deano’s friendship with Kit, his timid best mate from the wealthy side of town.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
If your child accomplished something great, here's how to offer praise while keeping them humble, modest, and appreciative.—
Wayne Parker,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
-
All of Mabel’s new forest friends—there are deer, rabbits, turtles, raccoons, and a singularly gloomy bear—bow down to a beaver sovereign, King George (Bobby Moynihan), a gregarious and naïve soul who embraces a humble, communal ideal of living.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This film, so seemingly unassertive, apparently rambling and plotless, has a devastating impact and aftershock.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Accommodating, which is unassertive and cooperative, prioritizes the needs and preferences of others over one’s own in order to maintain harmony.—
Ellen Choi,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-critical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-critical. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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