self-effacing
Shuns the spotlight
Self-effacing describes someone who downplays their own importance, abilities, or achievements.
A self-effacing person deflects praise, avoids the spotlight, and puts others forward instead of themselves: His self-effacing manner made him easy to underestimate.
The quality can be genuine modesty or a social strategy—sometimes both at once.
Unassuming about oneself
- unassumingNot making claims
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- low-keyRestrained and understated
downplayed · muted · subdued · inconspicuous · unobtrusive · plain · simple · ordinary
Uncomfortably self-conscious
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- reservedRestrained in manner
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
- retiringLeaving the workforce
shrinking · wallflower · withdrawn · quiet · reticent · restrained · unassertive · hesitant
Readily yielding to control
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- obedientFollowing commands willingly
- docileEasily controlled or taught
- yieldingBending under pressure
accommodating · obliging · self-sacrificing · servile · subservient · acquiescent · undemanding · passive
humble
Unassuming about oneself
- unassumingNot making claims
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
low-key · downplayed · muted · subdued · inconspicuous · unobtrusive · plain · simple · ordinary · self-deprecating
bashful
Uncomfortably self-conscious
retiring · shrinking · wallflower · withdrawn · quiet · reticent · restrained · unassertive · hesitant · soft-spoken
submissive
Readily yielding to control
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- obedientFollowing commands willingly
- docileEasily controlled or taught
yielding · accommodating · obliging · self-sacrificing · servile · subservient · acquiescent · undemanding · passive · agreeable
- humilityhumbleness, humble, meekness, modesty, modest
- timiditybashfulness, shyness, timidness, timorousness, meekness
- introvertsintrovert, introverted, shy, reserved, loner
efface, self-effacement, effaced, effacing, effaces, effacement