overmodesty

Too much humility

Overmodesty is excessive humility or self-deprecation, often to the point of being counterproductive or insincere.

Someone displaying overmodesty might deflect deserved praise or downplay genuine accomplishments: His overmodesty about his contributions made it hard to give him proper credit.

The term sometimes implies false modesty—a performance of humility that calls attention to itself.

social-inhibition

bashfulness

Timid self-consciousness

shynessTendency toward social timidity
timidityFearful lack of courage
reticenceHabitual verbal restraint

demureness · diffidence · reserve · coyness · inhibition · withdrawn · wallflower · shrinking · meekness · unassertiveness

self-deprecation

self-effacement

Downplaying one's importance

self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
self-criticismJudging one's own failings
self-deprecationBelittling oneself deliberately

underselling · humbleness · inferiority · inadequacy · understatement · downplaying · minimizing · deflecting · disclaiming · undervaluing

concealment

hiding

Staying out of sight

deflectionChange in trajectory
downplayingDiminishing perceived significance
obscuringMaking less visible

masking · suppressing · withholding · understating · covering · dismissing

Opposites

self-presentation

overmodestyboastfulness

Excessive pride in oneself

bragging · self-aggrandizement · immodesty · boasting · showing off

self-regard

overmodestyoverconfidence

Unjustified certainty in oneself

arrogance · conceit · vanity · hubris · egotism

Family

overmodest

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