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 If your dad helped build your confidence and self-esteem, this quote from basketball player and coach Jim Valvano might be just the thing for Father's Day. — Nicole Harris, Parents, 21 June 2026 If anything, a creative idea, financial choice or self-esteem issue could trigger an awakening. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 People with bipolar disorder cycle through extended periods of mania and depression, often accompanied by grandiosity or elevated self-esteem during manic phases. — Angela Haupt, Time, 11 June 2026 Most people subjected to conversion practices experience negative effects, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and social isolation, as well as substance use and other self-destructive behaviors. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-esteem

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-esteem

Noun

The history of Kaskaskia is full of stories of resilience and stubborn pride, but also of the inevitability of nature.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Schlanger’s pride in his Jewishness forced Goldstein to reflect on her upbringing.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of pride

Noun

Visitors would find artifacts such as the candlestand, where Washington chose humility over ego and began the peaceful transfer of power.

— Lonnie G. Bunch III, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
The Aussie needed to have some amount of ego to achieve that confidence, something Wright didn’t have or realize.

— Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

Definition of ego

Noun

One is that only a small fraction of study participants had been tracked for a full decade, so there's less confidence in the 10-year risk estimate than the five-year risk estimate.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
Lobster that needs little more than heat, butter, garlic, and confidence.

— Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Definition of confidence

Noun

Despite initial concerns about adding aesthetic treatments to the programs, the clinic now features a dedicated area with modern equipment for skin firming and revitalization, boosting self-confidence.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
In the meantime, Mars in Gemini makes an alignment with Jupiter in Leo, increasing our self-confidence and piquing our curiosities.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

Definition of self-confidence

Noun

Before Chinese refining capacity picks up again, the government will want assurances that crude is flowing through the strait unimpeded, Kaneva predicted.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
The verbal assurance of a license commitment was vague, with several key details left unaddressed.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 8 July 2026

Definition of assurance

Noun

At the level of style, there was nothing obviously flamboyant about Allen’s music, nor her presence on stage, the quiet, acerbic composure of her delivery.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
England had lost their structure, lost their composure, and had lost the ball to a calmer, cleverer opposition.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 12 July 2026