Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Distrustful; wanting confidence in another's power, will, or sincerity.
- Distrustful of one's self; not confident; reserved; timid; shy: as, a diffident youth.
- Synonyms Bashful, shamefaced, sheepish.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Archaic Wanting confidence in others; distrustful.
- adjective Wanting confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective archaic : Lacking
confidence in others;distrustful . - adjective Lacking confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not
self-reliant ;timid ;modest ;bashful ; characterized by modest reserve.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective showing modest reserve
- adjective lacking self-confidence
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The old, merry Whiting looked sideways at Richard, then the round face assumed an expression of diffident humility for Mr. Hanks.
Morgan’s Run Colleen McCullough 2000
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The old, merry Whiting looked sideways at Richard, then the round face assumed an expression of diffident humility for Mr. Hanks.
Morgan’s Run Colleen McCullough 2000
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But, although Mary was a blushing and sensitive person, she was not what is commonly called a diffident girl; -- her nerves had that healthy, steady poise which gave her presence of mind in the most unwonted circumstances.
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The word diffident has appeared in 72 New York Times articles in the past year, including on Sept. 2 in How to Choose and
NYT > Home Page By THE LEARNING NETWORK 2011
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But this was before I had reached what I will call the diffident period in the life of a writer.
Aylwin Theodore Watts-Dunton 1873
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Mr. V.V. stood by a spindly table, carefully examining a small but costly vase, the property of Mr. Heth, of the Cheroot Works; and now he went on with a kind of diffident resolution, the air of one who gives a confidence with difficulty, but must do so now, for his honor.
V. V.'s Eyes Henry Sydnor Harrison 1905
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We are told, and can well believe it, that he was "diffident" of Sir Walter's designs.
Some Diversions of a Man of Letters Edmund Gosse 1888
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"Do you know," Thorpe began again, with a kind of diffident hesitation -- "do you happen to have formed an idea -- supposing that had been the case -- would she have accepted him?"
The Market-Place Harold Frederic 1877
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Here is video of Karl Rove talking with British TV Sky News, where he said that President Barack Obama is "diffident" when it comes to the details of the massive legislation he is pushing through Congress.
Latest Articles 2009
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He's the kind of diffident youth who would have to be VERY sure before he ventured an opinion at all. "
Secret Adversary Agatha Christie 1933
rucha commented on the word diffident
shy timid modest hesitating
January 3, 2014
mohitanand commented on the word diffident
showing modest reserve; lacking self-confidence
As a young girl she was diffident and reserved, but now as an adult, she is confident and assertive.
October 12, 2016