diffident
/ˈdɪfɪdənt/adjective
Shy and lacking confidence in yourself or your abilities.
Example sentences
- “The diffident student rarely raised her hand in class.”
- “He gave a diffident smile and looked down at the floor.”
- “Once diffident about her singing, she now performs every weekend.”
More formal than 'shy' and roughly the opposite of 'confident'. Do not confuse it with 'different'.
Synonyms for diffident
- shy
- timid
- unassertive
- self-effacing
Antonyms
Often confused with diffident
- diffident vs different
Find it in: Advanced English words, Words to describe a person.
Related words
disdainfulShowing scorn and a marked lack of concern for people seen as beneath one's notice.disheveledUntidy and messy, especially of someone's hair, clothes, or general appearance.dispassionateCalm and fair, without letting emotion or personal bias get in the way.demureQuiet, modest, and a little shy in manner.docileQuiet and easy to control, teach, or lead; willing to do what one is told.dogmaticStating opinions in a forceful, superior way, as if they could never be wrong. 