as in diffident
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Recent Examples of self-critical
Tolentino is at least self-critical.
—
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
The findings, a year in the making, represent one of the most self-critical examinations any elite university has publicly undertaken.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
Sensitive and self-critical at times, this zodiac sign is deeply aware of how others perceive them — qualities that mirror her portrayal of Cassie Howard.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
In another, a self-critical impulse takes hold, and what seemed good at first is suddenly embarrassing.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
And was obviously very talented and very intelligent to do so serious and self-critical work, which was really a breakthrough in this field.
—Mariel Carr, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
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
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
The findings, a year in the making, represent one of the most self-critical examinations any elite university has publicly undertaken.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
Sensitive and self-critical at times, this zodiac sign is deeply aware of how others perceive them — qualities that mirror her portrayal of Cassie Howard.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
In another, a self-critical impulse takes hold, and what seemed good at first is suddenly embarrassing.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
And was obviously very talented and very intelligent to do so serious and self-critical work, which was really a breakthrough in this field.
—Mariel Carr, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-critical
Adjective
-
To strangers, Kay seemed demure, diffident, even shy, an impression her youthful appearance helped create.—
Charlotte Brooks,
Big Think,
13 Mar. 2026
-
This small, diffident moment is one more reason to mourn his death.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
On to neo-soul, a genre that could only be seen as a vessel for humble, egoless artistry to someone who has engaged with the genre primarily through interracial couple TikTok accounts and Instagram slideshows.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Dosunmu always has taken an egoless approach to his role with the Bulls.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And also the anticipatory obedience by a lot of these news organizations who are more timid.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The film follows Colin (Harry Melling), a timid man who is swept off of his feet by Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), an impossibly handsome biker, who takes him on as his submissive.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In terms of all-time hero's journeys, his is up there, from his humble beginnings on Tatooine to learning of his sinister dad to becoming a Jedi master to sacrificing himself to help the Resistance.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
-
But on a recent afternoon, in the basement reading room, Joshua Cochran, the library’s curator of American history, reached into one of a dozen archival boxes loaded on a cart and carefully unwrapped a humbler item — a paper cup imprinted with the image of Paul Revere’s lantern.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
1 May 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 9 May. 2026.
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