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- Dictionarydiffident/ˈdɪfɪd(ə)nt/
adjective
- 1. modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence: "a diffident youth"
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The meaning of DIFFIDENT is hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence. How to use diffident in a sentence. What is an antonym of diffident?
adjective. uk / ˈdɪf.ɪ.d ə nt / us / ˈdɪf.ɪ.d ə nt / Add to word list. shy and not confident of your abilities: a diffident manner. diffident about You shouldn't be so diffident about your achievements - you've done really well! SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Shy and modest. aw shucks. backward. bashfully. bashfulness. inadequacy.
Diffident definition: lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy. . See examples of DIFFIDENT used in a sentence.
adjective. us / ˈdɪf.ɪ.d ə nt / uk / ˈdɪf.ɪ.d ə nt / Add to word list. shy and not confident of your abilities: a diffident manner. diffident about You shouldn't be so diffident about your achievements - you've done really well! SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Shy and modest. aw shucks. backward. bashfully. bashfulness. inadequacy.
The adjective diffident describes someone who is shy and lacking in self-confidence. If you are shy and have a diffident manner, you should probably not choose one of these professions: substitute teacher, stand-up comic, or lion-tamer.
Someone who is diffident is rather shy and does not enjoy talking about themselves or being noticed by other people.
diffident (about something) not having much confidence in yourself; not wanting to talk about yourself synonym shy a diffident manner/smile He was modest and diffident about his own success.
diffident. adjective. uk. Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. / ˈdɪfɪd ə nt / us. Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. shy and without any confidence: a diffident young man.
dif·fi·dent. Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid: He was too diffident to express his opinion. [Middle English, from Latin diffīdēns, diffīdent-, present participle of diffīdere, to mistrust : dis-, dis- + fīdere, to trust; see bheidh- in Indo-European roots .]
There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the word diffident. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.