as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
he's dating a sweet, self-effacing girl
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-effacing
For instance, many people praised former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s empathetic, self-effacing leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an openness and deference to experts.
—
Barret Michalec,
The Conversation,
19 Feb. 2026
The self-effacing Kress downplayed the moment.
—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Thomas is atypical in another regard as the floor leader, given his naturally quiet, self-effacing manner.
—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
During that time, a self-effacing marksman named Simo Häyhä, a sniper so grimly effective he was known and feared as the White Death, would prove invaluable to the Finns’ ability to hold off the Soviet advance.
—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-effacing
Barret Michalec,
The Conversation,
19 Feb. 2026
The self-effacing Kress downplayed the moment.
—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Thomas is atypical in another regard as the floor leader, given his naturally quiet, self-effacing manner.
—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
During that time, a self-effacing marksman named Simo Häyhä, a sniper so grimly effective he was known and feared as the White Death, would prove invaluable to the Finns’ ability to hold off the Soviet advance.
—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-effacing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-effacing
Adjective
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Such movement was not mirrored on the Netherlands’ right, where the attack-minded Denzel Dumfries was playing a more withdrawn role.
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Without daily contact with peers, some children become more withdrawn, lonely or emotionally flat.
Adjective
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Now, Perez sits just five homers shy of breaking Brett’s all-time franchise mark for home runs as a Royal.
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Farrell, who also narrates in a soft voice, often wears a look of shy incomprehension, as if a beat behind in translating the world around him, a stranger in a strange land.
Adjective
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Overall and head-to-head goal differential are tiebreakers for group placement, and the Norwegians won’t be bashful about scoring as many times as possible.
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Brock Purdy isn’t bashful about the 49ers’ potential.
Cite this Entry
“Self-effacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-effacing. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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