self-deprecatory

adjective

Definition of self-deprecatorynext
as in self-deprecating

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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 self-deprecatory But my favorite joke was the self-deprecatory one. — Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 15 May 2026 Prior to sharing his self-deprecatory costume, Vance marked the holiday with another one of his viral memes. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025 His TikTok alone is a treasure trove of hilarious videos, which range from self-deprecatory humor to him hopping on whatever viral trend is tickling his fancy. — Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-deprecatory
  1. self-deprecating
  2. self-effacing
  3. unassuming
  4. down-to-earth
  5. humble
  6. meek
  7. deferential
  8. aw-shucks
Adjective
  • That self-deprecating description opens Tony, writer-director Matt Johnson’s movie about the one crazy summer that changed a thoughtless young lout’s life; for good measure, the quote does double duty as the tagline on the film’s poster.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Neill was, by all accounts, a veritable Mensch with a warmly low-key and self-deprecating personality.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026
Definition of self-deprecating
Adjective
  • Compared to Chalamet, another leading man with great range but more naked ambition than Pattinson, the British star’s self-effacing personality comes across as more endearing, Weekman believes.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The biography, drawn from interviews with Altman as well as with more than 250 of his friends, family, and associates, casts a balanced portrait of a figure who is by turns self-effacing and cognizant of his unique place in history.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of self-effacing
Adjective
  • An unassuming woman waltzed through their offices and allegedly robbed the institution of $15 million, armed not with a weapon, but flimsy paperwork and a basket of pies.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The best antique shops are often found in unassuming destinations and quaint locales, where diamonds in the rough can be discovered with a little bit of searching.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unassuming
Adjective
  • Norton isn’t the only star who’s claimed that Swift and Kelce’s wedding was unexpectedly down-to-earth.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Her age is a few thousand, showcasing the down-to-earth demeanor that aligns her with Virgo, the astrological component that makes her chill and understanding (aside from being over two thousand years old).
    — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of down-to-earth
Adjective
  • In May 2026, Google redesigned the humble yet powerful search box.
    — Parry Headrick, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Charlotte native was humble and patient, his coach previously told the Observer, and in 2013 became an All-American defensive lineman at JCSU — a title the school hadn’t seen since 2008.
    — Julia Coin August 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of humble
Adjective
  • Closer to home, Liverpool have shown the pitfalls of an expensive facelift, splurging record sums on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak last summer only to free-fall from champions to a meek fifth-place finish.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • This is just one of many, many kinky situations Hoffman encounters as Elliot, a meek, wide-eyed college graduate who enters into a sadomasochistic relationship with gallery owner Erika Tracey (Olivia Wilde).
    — Anna Tingley, Variety, 31 July 2026
Definition of meek
Adjective
  • The trial attorney was struck by how deferential the judge was to Cohn.
    — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Biden argued the administration had been too deferential to Wall Street and too cautious about confronting China over intellectual property theft.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 July 2026
Definition of deferential
Adjective
  • Ted himself would never say so, of course — he’d aw-shucks the notion via some convoluted reference to a beloved ’80s movie.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
  • But people’s sympathy for the aw-shucks act does tend to wear out.
    — Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
Definition of aw-shucks

Browse Nearby Words

self-deprecatingly
self-deprecatory
self-despair
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Cite this Entry

“Self-deprecatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-deprecatory. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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