SELF-ESTEEM Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

self-esteem

noun

ˌself-ə-ˈstēm

Definition of self-esteem

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

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

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 But finding one’s nerve means fighting the everyday vagaries of low self-esteem, depression, self-deception, insecurity, loss, never-ending grief, and narcissists. — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 One that is warm, open and includes appropriate limits is associated with higher self-esteem and better school performance, among other outcomes, according to the American Psychological Association. — Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 Girls in Motion was led by Danae Anderson and focused on using movement and arts activities to help a dozen students build confidence and self-esteem. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Your friend may show changes in their usual mood or mindset, such as sadness, depression, anxiety, self-doubt or low self-esteem. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-esteem

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-esteem

Noun

Employees got into the Duke fun, too, showing a sense of pride in the character and its relationship to their home base.

— Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Some still believe in the system or feel genuine national pride.

— Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of pride

Noun

Someone may push an opinion too hard, take credit, or turn a simple discussion into a battle of egos.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
Inevitably, the movie is not quite as interior, but Jean-Luc Godard uses each male character’s contentious interpretation of The Odyssey as a reflection of their own egos.

— Radhika Seth, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of ego

Noun

The research represents an early step towards making model identity and response integrity independently verifiable, potentially giving users greater confidence in the systems powering their applications.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Have the confidence to walk away For founders, persistence is often celebrated, but knowing when to stop investing in a business can be just as important as having the conviction to start one.

— Amy Francombe, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of confidence

Noun

The primary suite comes with its own fireplace, walk-in closet and a spa bathroom with a soaking tub, dual vanities and a separate shower.

— Lauryn Azu, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
But for a complexion that suddenly looks lifted, contoured, and a few years younger, Le Lift Crème Riche gets priority space in our vanities.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of vanity

Noun

On top of that, the mental load that comes with handling a health crisis like cancer can do a number on a woman’s body image and self-confidence.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2026
His campaign has targeted boosting school attendance and student self-confidence as the district’s two biggest challenges.

— Sophia Veneziano, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of self-confidence

Noun

FlashProve aims to provide that assurance without requiring users to access or independently run the model.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
The group stressed that the issue goes beyond its Instagram account, saying that Americans who rely on Meta’s platforms need assurance that voting content won’t be suppressed ahead of or on election day.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of assurance

Noun

There was no need to imagine what the conversation was about because the entire team and fan base saw Gordon lose his composure, say something slick to Spillane, who had just tackled him along New England’s sidelines.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 Nov. 2026
The composure the defense showed in that moment was monumental, as senior quarterback Jaden Craig was able to orchestrate a game-winning drive.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Nov. 2026