as in diffident
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Recent Examples of self-critical
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
Her self-critical editing generated a great deal of confusion.
—Susan Gubar
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Avery, a shy and self-critical perfectionist, is drawn to Taylor but wary of her reputation as a heartbreaker.
—Diya Chacko, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2025
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
Her self-critical editing generated a great deal of confusion.
—Susan Gubar
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Avery, a shy and self-critical perfectionist, is drawn to Taylor but wary of her reputation as a heartbreaker.
—Diya Chacko, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 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
-
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
-
The indie follows Christie, a timid 30-something who, after an unexpected positive pregnancy test, convinces her free-spirited best friend Ally (Ruffin) to help her track down her birth mother.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Sam, meanwhile, is a more timid RA with a longtime girlfriend (Maisy Stella).—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Some Wordlers also play Competitive Wordle against friends, family, the Wordle Bot or even against me, your humble narrator.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The humble butter dish, once a purely practical necessity, is enjoying a significant revival, now being showcased on countertops and dining tables in vessels that are both stylish and functional.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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 Sep. 2025.
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