diffident

adjective dif·fi·dent \ ˈdi-fə-dənt , -ˌdent \

Updated on: 15 Nov 2017

Definition of diffident

1 : hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence

2 : reserved, unassertive

3 archaic : distrustful

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diffidently

adverb

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Examples of diffident in a Sentence

Being suspicious of conventions, demotic equals were often at a loss in their daily encounters: shall one act diffident or clamant of one's rights? —Jacques Barzun, From Dawn to Decadence, 2000
Whatever made him diffident at the prospect of having a military strike ordered in his defense, he kept it to himself. —George Stephanopoulos, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 1999
"It's Indianapolis 500," Andrew said with a polite smile, pleasing me with his diffident correction. —Camille Minichino, The Lithium Murder, 1999
… a boy of 8 or 13, gazing foursquare at the camera, diffident but showing off, petulant but vulnerable … —Walker Percy, New York Times Book Review, 11 Oct. 1987
She was diffident about stating her opinion.
for someone who makes a living performing for other people, the actress is remarkably diffident in real life

Recent Examples of diffident from the Web

Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon trade off the lead female roles, playing the ambitious Regina and her diffident sister-in-law, Birdie.

— alexis soloski, New York Times, "What’s New in NYC Theater," 22 June 2017
Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon trade off the lead female roles, playing the ambitious Regina and her diffident sister-in-law, Birdie.

— alexis soloski, New York Times, "What’s New in NYC Theater," 29 June 2017
Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon trade off the lead female roles, playing the ambitious Regina and her diffident sister-in-law, Birdie.

— alexis soloski, New York Times, "What’s New in NYC Theater," 29 June 2017
Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon trade off the lead female roles, playing the ambitious Regina and her diffident sister-in-law, Birdie.

— alexis soloski, New York Times, "What’s New in NYC Theater," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diffident.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

What's An Antonym of diffident?

Diffident and confident are antonyms, but both have a lot to do with how much trust you have in yourself. Etymology reveals the role that that underlying trust plays in the two terms. Confident and diffident both trace back to the Latin verb fidere, which means "to trust." Diffident arose from a combination of fidere and the prefix dis-, meaning "the absence of," and it has been used since the 15th century to refer to individuals lacking in self-trust. Confident arose from confidere, a term created by combining fidere with the intensifying prefix con-. That term has been used for self-trusting folks since at least the late 16th century. By the way, fidere puts the trust in several other English words too, including fidelity and fiduciary.

Origin and Etymology of diffident

Middle English, from Latin diffident-, diffidens, present participle of diffidere to distrust, from dis- + fidere to trust — more at bide

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First Known Use: 15th century

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diffident Synonyms

Synonyms

backward, bashful, coy, demure, shy, introverted, modest, recessive, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish, withdrawn

Antonyms

extroverted (also extraverted), immodest, outgoing

Related Words

antisocial, lone, lone-wolf, unsociable, unsocial; awkward, embarrassed, self-conscious, unadventurous, unassertive, unenterprising; inhibited, reserved, uneasy, uptight

Near Antonyms

boon, clubbable (also clubable), companionable, convivial, gregarious, sociable, social; bold, dashing, forceful; brash, forward, overbold, uninhibited, unreserved

Synonym Discussion of diffident

shy, bashful, diffident, modest, coy mean not inclined to be forward. shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.