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
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Recent Examples of self-esteem
Sara also noted to SWNS that pageants have boosted her daughter's self-esteem through the years.
—
Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
As a result, your self-esteem begins to suffer.
—Kathy and Ross Petrass, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
The Dodgers did wonders for both his ERA and his self-esteem.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
That way, researchers could break out of that paradigm themselves to identify the positive in the shadow, such as social influence and high self-esteem.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
As a result, your self-esteem begins to suffer.
—Kathy and Ross Petrass, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
The Dodgers did wonders for both his ERA and his self-esteem.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
That way, researchers could break out of that paradigm themselves to identify the positive in the shadow, such as social influence and high self-esteem.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-esteem
Noun
-
Assayas takes a cynical and clichéd view regarding temptation and corruption, worldly rewards of security and pleasure, even ego and pride, while having nothing to say about the transformations envisioned or the values embodied in the exercise of political authority.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
Sebastian enjoys staying active and takes pride in participating in a variety of sports, including football, soccer, volleyball, and track.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Assayas takes a cynical and clichéd view regarding temptation and corruption, worldly rewards of security and pleasure, even ego and pride, while having nothing to say about the transformations envisioned or the values embodied in the exercise of political authority.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
To be an athlete is to prove yourself constantly, to always be risking your ego and your body.—
Jade Chang,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Although Detroit collapsed in the second round, the front office’s confidence in Bickerstaff, who signed a contract extension the day after the Pistons ousted the Orlando Magic in the first round, hasn’t wavered.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Ahead, pro hairstylists advise on how to transition out of a relaxer while minimizing breakage and maintaining confidence in your hair.—
Janell M. Hickman-Kirby,
Allure,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The dresser has a classic silhouette with minimalist details like tapered legs and oiled hardware, and the mirror doubles as a vanity.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
That lack of vanity becomes the greatest weapon of My Duchess.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Even better when that power of recollection is amplified by imagination, an entomological fascination with the English language, and boundless self-confidence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
Reinforcing Gonzalez’s self-confidence is his propensity to thrive when runners are in scoring position.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
This retrograde is challenging you to build a life rooted in genuine self-respect rather than fear, control, or survival instincts.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
-
The pic is billed as being a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But despite assurances that the impact on businesses has been minimized, some groups still worried that the AI bill — despite its sections on workforce development and increasing AI knowledge — will ultimately create new burdens for businesses that could hamper innovation efforts.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
The image was used only after receiving explicit assurance from the content partner that permission had been secured, including for the retail boxes.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Losing his composure is not his style.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The briefing was different in the sense that Rubio effectively answered foreign policy questions while maintaining a lighthearted, playful composure with the press corps.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-esteem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-esteem. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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