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mousy rabbity reluctant reserved retiring shrinking suspicious timorous unassertive unassured unobtrusive unpoised withdrawn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

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

She is as diffident and self-doubting as LuPone is fearless and forthright.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2024

His eyes were soft and irisless and brown, and suddenly I saw Roskus watching me from behind all his whitefolks’ claptrap of uniforms and politics and Harvard manner, diffident, secret, inarticulate and sad.

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner

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