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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-esteem
Their self-esteem crashes and their anxiety increases.
—
wendy Wisner, Parents, 21 Oct. 2025
One study on ghosting in a hiring context—say, an employer’s nonresponse to a job applicant—found that those who were ghosted had more self-esteem than those who got personal feedback.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
His affairs helped, if only temporarily, to restore an ever-tenuous self-esteem.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Proceeds will directly benefit the organization’s programs that allow students to develop creative outlets, learn marketable skills and gain a sense of independence and self-esteem.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
wendy Wisner, Parents, 21 Oct. 2025
One study on ghosting in a hiring context—say, an employer’s nonresponse to a job applicant—found that those who were ghosted had more self-esteem than those who got personal feedback.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
His affairs helped, if only temporarily, to restore an ever-tenuous self-esteem.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Proceeds will directly benefit the organization’s programs that allow students to develop creative outlets, learn marketable skills and gain a sense of independence and self-esteem.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-esteem
Noun
-
Quiroga Chaparro fled Colombia to escape persecution based on his sexuality after attending a gay pride event, his husband said.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Agnes was a passionate historian, who took great pride in preserving her family’s rich history.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bonitzer twists those facts into a story of clashing egos and huge commissions, with André doing his best to broker a sale while respecting the wishes of the paintings’ rightful heirs, as well of those of his money-hungry employer.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Milei caters masterfully to Trump’s ego and will be president even if his party loses seats in Argentina’s legislature.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This funny tale of unlikely heroism can be enjoyed either as a read-aloud or as a confidence booster for newly independent readers.—
Caroline Carlson,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Narrowly beating Purdue as a 21-point favorite won’t inspire a lot of confidence for the final stretch of the regular season.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In the owner’s en suite, Heesen replaced one of the original dual toilets with a vanity area.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
27 Oct. 2025
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At the same time, invisibility has come as a relief, insofar as my vanity always kept company with self-consciousness and self-flagellation.—
Lucinda Rosenfeld,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For creatives and business women alike, looking the part can be the key to not only self-confidence but also self-actualization.—
Brianna J. Heath,
Essence,
27 Oct. 2025
-
At the event, Vonn takes pictures with a group of former scholarship recipients who now serve as youth ambassadors; in that role, these young women talk to adolescent girls about subjects like self-confidence, body image, and emotional intelligence.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Approximately 25 artists were highlighted in the book that aims to encompass the nonprofit’s core values: inspiring artistic expression, building community, promoting self-respect and developing independence.—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
-
My partner’s refusal to be comforted by this institutional food struck me sometimes as pointlessly obstructive and at other times as a sign of self-respect.—
Rachel Cusk,
New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Wall Street is looking for assurance that Apple’s biggest revenue driver is still growing despite concerns that the company is behind in the AI race.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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The idea of winning Rs 1 crore had driven countless Indians to try their luck at KBC, dedicating years to memorizing trivia with no assurance of ever being able to compete on the show.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the most impressive thing for me is just his composure.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
In recent years, he’s trained some of the world’s most accomplished investors, entrepreneurs, special forces veterans, and CEOs in the same practice — how to find clarity and composure amid uncertainty.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-esteem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-esteem. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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