false modesty
Pretending to undervalue
False modesty is the pretense of humility while actually seeking praise or recognition.
Someone displaying false modesty downplays their achievements in a way that invites contradiction: Oh, it was nothing really—when they clearly want you to insist otherwise.
The falseness lies in the gap between the humble words and the obvious desire for acknowledgment.
Deceptive outward show
- feigned humilityFake self-effacement
- disingenuousnessPretended ignorance or naivety
- affectationArtificial behavior for effect
- shamFraudulent imitation
charade · posturing · masquerade · guise · artifice · fakery · put-on · facade
Soliciting praise indirectly
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- attention-seekingCraving others' focus
Belittling oneself deliberately
- demurenessModest, reserved quality
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
- bashfulnessTimid self-consciousness
reticence · reserve · unassuming · self-effacement · unpretentiousness · lowliness · coyness · timidity
Humorously not meant literally
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- understatementIntentional diminishment for effect
- facetiousnessHumorous levity, often inappropriate
- witClever, inventive humor
paradox · self-mockery · wryness · dry humor
pretense
Deceptive outward show
- feigned humilityFake self-effacement
- disingenuousnessPretended ignorance or naivety
- affectationArtificial behavior for effect
sham · charade · posturing · masquerade · guise · artifice · fakery · put-on · facade · dissembling
fishing for compliments
Soliciting praise indirectly
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- schemingCrafty and calculating
self-deprecation
Belittling oneself deliberately
- demurenessModest, reserved quality
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
bashfulness · reticence · reserve · unassuming · self-effacement · unpretentiousness · lowliness · coyness · timidity · downplaying
tongue-in-cheek
Humorously not meant literally
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- understatementIntentional diminishment for effect
- facetiousnessHumorous levity, often inappropriate
wit · paradox · self-mockery · wryness · dry humor
social convention
Shared behavioral expectation
- fake emotionscrocodile tears, fake smile, feigned interest, feigned surprise, forced laugh
- insincerityinsincerity, phoniness, fakeness, pretense, dissembling
- Social Pretensepretense, facade, affectation, phoniness, insincerity
- self-deprecationself-mockery, self-effacement, self-criticism, deprecation, humble brag
- arrogancearrogant, conceited, pompous, vain, haughty
- showing offboasting, bragged, show off, bragging, boasted
false modestyunpretentious
Lacking false superiority
sincerity · guilelessness · candor · straightforwardness · authenticity
false, modesty, falsehood, falsify, falseness, falsified, falsification, falsifying, falsifier