diffidence

Noun

Meaning

The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others.

Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

fear doubt distrust humility hesitation apprehension timidity suspicion self-distrust bashfulness self-doubt reserve restraint constraint reluctance
Show all synonyms

Antonyms

confidence bow-wow face belief faith credit
Show all antonyms

Hypernyms

timidity timidness timorousness

Hyponyms

hesitancy hesitance unassertiveness

Examples

Give me a mystery - just a plain and simple one - a mystery which is diffidence and silence, a slim little bare-foot mystery: give me a mystery - just one! Yevgeny Yevtushenko

Where youth and diffidence are united, it requires uncommon steadiness of reason to resist the attraction of being called the most charming girl in the world. Jane Austen

I went from resenting my mother-in-law to accepting her, finally to appreciating her. What appeared to be her diffidence when I was first married, I now value as serenity. Ayelet Waldman

Discretion has been termed the better part of valour, and it is more certain, that diffidence is the better part of knowledge. Charles Caleb Colton

The true confidence which is faith in Christ, and the true diffidence which is utter distrust of myself--are identical. Alexander Maclaren

Ability hits the mark where presumption overshoots and diffidence falls short. Golda Meir

Close letter words and terms

difficulty with reading difficulty with speech diffide diffidency diffident diffident person