diffidence
Lacking confident assertion
Diffidence is a lack of confidence in oneself, a hesitancy to assert or put oneself forward.
It suggests shyness or modesty rather than incompetence: She spoke with diffidence about her achievements.
Someone diffident holds back not from inability but from self-doubt or reserve.
The word carries a gentler connotation than insecurity—more retiring than anxious.
Uncomfortably self-conscious
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- shyReserved and retiring
- coyAffectedly modest
- mousyShy and unassertive
sheepish · shrinking · timorous · withdrawn · reticent · retiring · demure · wallflower
Freedom from arrogance
- unassumingNot making claims
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
unostentatious · humble · reserved · quiet · subdued · meek · lowly · down-to-earth
Delay from uncertainty
- reluctanceDisinclination to act
- tentativenessState of being uncertain
- indecisionFailure to decide
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
faltering · vacillation · ambivalence · equivocation · dithering · pausing · halting · reticence
Uncertainty about oneself
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- self-questioningProbing one's own thoughts
- self-criticismJudging one's own failings
- inadequacyState of being insufficient
inferiority · self-deprecation · self-consciousness · overthinking · second-guessing · misgiving · distrust · apprehension
bashful
Uncomfortably self-conscious
mousy · sheepish · shrinking · timorous · withdrawn · reticent · retiring · demure · wallflower · self-effacing
humility
Freedom from arrogance
- unassumingNot making claims
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
understated · unostentatious · humble · reserved · quiet · subdued · meek · lowly · down-to-earth · plain
hesitation
Delay from uncertainty
- reluctanceDisinclination to act
- tentativenessState of being uncertain
- indecisionFailure to decide
wavering · faltering · vacillation · ambivalence · equivocation · dithering · pausing · halting · reticence · wariness
insecurity
Uncertainty about oneself
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- self-questioningProbing one's own thoughts
- self-criticismJudging one's own failings
inadequacy · inferiority · self-deprecation · self-consciousness · overthinking · second-guessing · misgiving · distrust · apprehension · pessimism
- humilityhumbleness, humble, meekness, modesty, modest
- insecuritiesinsecurity, self-doubt, low self-esteem, inadequacy, inferiority
- doubtdoubt, doubts, doubting, doubtful, skepticism
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
- introversionintroversion, solitude, alone time, isolation, loner
- silencequiet, silent, mute, hush, stillness
diffidenceconfidence
Self-assurance or trust
self-confidence · self-assurance · assurance · self-possession · self-belief
diffidenceboldness
Fearless readiness to act
assertiveness · audacity · forwardness · brashness · pushiness
diffidencearrogance
Excessive self-importance
cockiness · pride · conceit · haughtiness · self-importance