1
as in pride
a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance
friends and family have tried to help the shy child develop some self-esteem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ego
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
his towering self-esteem made praise from other people entirely unnecessary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in confidence
great faith in oneself or one's abilities
the kind of self-esteem that a struggling actor needs to keep going in the face of constant discouragement and rejection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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-esteem
Based on Kisei Tada’s manga S and X, the series explores desire, self-esteem and modern relationships through an earnest and empathetic lens.
—
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
With Neptune, your ruling planet, entering Aries on January 26th, your money, values, and self-esteem sector is activated for the next thirteen years.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 25 Jan. 2026
With a hungry ghost and a series of crippling self-esteem issues in tow, Saccharine leaves a lot for audiences to stomach.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Hold true to your self-esteem and long-term objectives, and let this short period of challenge pass you by without making any big decisions.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
With Neptune, your ruling planet, entering Aries on January 26th, your money, values, and self-esteem sector is activated for the next thirteen years.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 25 Jan. 2026
With a hungry ghost and a series of crippling self-esteem issues in tow, Saccharine leaves a lot for audiences to stomach.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Hold true to your self-esteem and long-term objectives, and let this short period of challenge pass you by without making any big decisions.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-esteem
Noun
-
Gergely Karácsony, mayor of Budapest, Hungary, was charged with organizing an unlawful assembly despite a prohibition order for his role in organizing a gay pride event.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There was a large sense of pride in Mike McCarthy's hometown neighborhood of Greenfield as the Pittsburgh native was introduced as the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.—
Cassidy Wood,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The healthy egos on this cast probably won’t see me as a challenge threat despite my record.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Performers, clowns and managers talk about the risks, egos and family atmosphere at Cirque, as shots of death-defying stunts play.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many CEOs assume that once a capable CFO is in place, financial confidence will follow.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Now the public appears to have lost confidence in Noem.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Posing on top of an antique vanity and inside a wooden cabinet, Bieber cycled through a parade of sheer lace, see-through mesh, and strappy designs in shades of red, black, pink, and cream.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Store liquids—such as lotion, makeup, perfumes, and skincare—on a tray to protect your vanity table or bathroom cabinet.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Having built multibillion-dollar companies, often at a young age, their self-confidence frequently leads them to underestimate the complexities of public policy, to misunderstand public opinion, and to overestimate their ability to push large changes through quickly.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
-
For fledgling photographer Kristian Pederson, the antidote to this schism is a cosmic dose—a Faustian dose—of self-confidence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The August 12th Leo New Moon Solar Eclipse invites you to commit to a new era of financial responsibility and self-respect.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
23 Dec. 2025
-
The national nonprofit provides the opportunity for inner-city kids to participate in football and cheer, while teaching them the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline and self-respect.—
Vivian Kwarm,
Mercury News,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Chicago and Illinois, unfortunately, have been unable to offer such assurances.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But probabilities are less sexy than proclamations, ambiguities less attractive than assurances—or so the rising number of storm-hyping accounts on social media seem to suggest.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The typical composure is gone from his game.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Ruffier was impressed by Bresson’s composure and willingness to engage.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-esteem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-esteem. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
