as in diffident
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Recent Examples of self-critical
But starters like left tackle Jordan Mailata have in the past been self-critical after games, saying their level of play hasn’t met their standard.
—
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 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
Last—but definitely not least—the influence of social media, videos, and movies can be a major reason kids are overly self-critical, Bibi notes.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 21 July 2025
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 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
Last—but definitely not least—the influence of social media, videos, and movies can be a major reason kids are overly self-critical, Bibi notes.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 21 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-critical
Adjective
-
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
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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
Adjective
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Finally, the Gators’ timid portal strategy is deliberate, not an unwillingness to adapt.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Imagine a commissioner being called out like that directly and that timid, tepid statement.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Established by friends and opticians Graham Cutler and Tony Gross in 1969, the duo’s firm quickly exploded in popularity well beyond its humble premises at 16 Knightsbridge Green.—
Oren Hartov,
Robb Report,
7 Oct. 2025
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The humble soybean has become a flashpoint in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies after Beijing ceased all purchases from the US.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Shy and unassertive, she’s often been overlooked by others and kept to herself.—
Yasmine AlSayyad,
The New Yorker,
9 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Self-critical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-critical. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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