Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Lack of faith or confidence in one's own abilities.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Distrust of, or want of confidence in, one's self or one's own powers.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun Want of confidence in one' self; diffidence.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun lack of self-confidence
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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And this question is often driven, I think, by negative impulses: a nagging sense of self-distrust (am I deluding myself with hedonism, clinging to autonomy?) and/or the habit of chronic discontentment (will I be tormented if I don't have what everyone else has?).
Sonya Chung: Art Before Life: Questioning the Parenthood Question Sonya Chung 2010
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In the latest manifestation of what seems to be a neverending cycle of Nordic self-distrust and mutual dislike, Finnish author Sofi Oksanen has badly upset many of her compatriots by giving an extended interview to Danish television mostly in English in which she condemns Finland as an unpleasant, inward-turned country characterized by male chauvinism, repressed violence, actual violence against women and subservience to Russia.
Archive 2009-11-01 David McDuff 2009
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In the latest manifestation of what seems to be a neverending cycle of Nordic self-distrust and mutual dislike, Finnish author Sofi Oksanen has badly upset many of her compatriots by giving an extended interview to Danish television mostly in English in which she condemns Finland as an unpleasant, inward-turned country characterized by male chauvinism, repressed violence, actual violence against women and subservience to Russia.
Knocking Finland David McDuff 2009
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Self-important, condescending, Casaubon hopes that Dorothea will carry on his work after his death, “the lonely labor, the ambition breathing hardly under the pressure of self-distrust,” even though it would entomb her.
Archive 2009-12-01 2009
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Self-important, condescending, Casaubon hopes that Dorothea will carry on his work after his death, “the lonely labor, the ambition breathing hardly under the pressure of self-distrust,” even though it would entomb her.
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Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spring back to dust.
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The pathos of its self-distrust and anguish of doubt is buried in the earth as its last secret.
The Five of Hearts Patricia O'Toole 2008
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The pathos of its self-distrust and anguish of doubt is buried in the earth as its last secret.
The Five of Hearts Patricia O'Toole 2008
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But what shall we say of those who would persuade others of what they themselves do not believe? and what of the monsters who persecute their brethren in the humble and rational doctrine of doubt and self-distrust?
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I have nothing to reply, except it be, that we must always distrust ourselves; and so great is my own self-distrust, that I conclude my letter with assuring you of my utmost indulgence, and requesting yours.
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