diffident
Lacking in confidence
Diffident describes someone who lacks confidence in themselves, often appearing shy, hesitant, or self-effacing.
A diffident person holds back in conversation, doubts their own abilities, or defers to others: She gave a diffident smile when asked to share her opinion.
The word suggests modesty taken to an uncomfortable extreme—not false humility, but genuine uncertainty about one's own worth.
Uncomfortably self-conscious
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- sheepishEmbarrassed and timid
- shrinkingDecreasing in dimension
- retiringLeaving the workforce
coy · mousy · wallflower · blushing · introverted · withdrawn · reclusive · self-conscious
Not firmly known
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- hesitantSlow to act
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
apprehensive · unsure · doubtful · unconfident · second-guessing · vulnerable · inadequate · worried
Lacking in pretension
- unassumingNot making claims
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
understated · self-deprecating · humble · plain · simple · unostentatious · low-key · restrained
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- standoffishUnfriendly in manner
- distantFar away or aloof
- guardedWary and restrained
cool · private · taciturn · uncommunicative · undemonstrative · restrained · discreet · self-contained
bashful
Uncomfortably self-conscious
retiring · coy · mousy · wallflower · blushing · introverted · withdrawn · reclusive · self-conscious · unassertive
uncertain
Not firmly known
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- hesitantSlow to act
nervous · apprehensive · unsure · doubtful · unconfident · second-guessing · vulnerable · inadequate · worried · uneasy
modest
Lacking in pretension
- unassumingNot making claims
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
down-to-earth · understated · self-deprecating · humble · plain · simple · unostentatious · low-key · restrained · sober
aloof
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- standoffishUnfriendly in manner
- distantFar away or aloof
guarded · cool · private · taciturn · uncommunicative · undemonstrative · restrained · discreet · self-contained · formal
- humilityhumbleness, humble, meekness, modesty, modest
- introvertsintrovert, introverted, shy, reserved, loner
- cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
diffidentconfident
Sure of oneself
self-confident · self-assured · assertive · bold · assured
diffidentoutgoing
Sociable and unreserved
extroverted · extraverted · gregarious · sociable · forward