Definitions

diffident

[dif-i-duhnt] / ˈdɪf ɪ dənt /

ADJECTIVE

hesitant; unconfident

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bashful demure meek self-conscious self-effacing sheepish timid unassuming

STRONG

shy unsure

WEAK

backward blenching chary constrained coy distrustful doubtful dubious flinching humble insecure modest mousy rabbity reluctant reserved retiring shrinking suspicious timorous unassertive unassured unobtrusive unpoised withdrawn

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aggressive bold brave confident extroverted

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The slight turbo lag and diffident throttle behavior at low speed goes away.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Seberg’s haircut in the original film, a super-short, blond pixie cut, rewrote fashion trends around the world and encapsulated a spirit of youthful, diffident insouciance.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2025

But the overarching tone, across the board, is oddly diffident.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2025

But, he was naturally diffident - which worked in his favour when he auditioned to play Dr James Kildare, a medical intern struggling to learn his profession, in NBC's new primetime medical drama.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2025

I could see she despised me, marking with all the snobbery of her class that I was no great lady, that I was humble, shy and diffident.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Vocabulary lists containing diffident

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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!