diffidence
noun
dif·fi·dence
| \ ˈdi-fə-dən(t)s
, -fÉ™-ËŒden(t)s\
, -fÉ™-ËŒden(t)s\
Definition of diffidence
: the quality or state of being unassertive or bashful : the quality or state of being diffident
Examples of diffidence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His touch is humane, restrained sometimes to the point of diffidence, but genuinely interested in locating small and large truths within broad comic concepts. — Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, "‘Tel Aviv on Fire’ review: Playing an Israeli/Palestinian soap opera for laughs," 29 July 2019 Only resolution and resourcefulness, not diffidence and jokes, will secure victory. — Kyle Smith, National Review, "Who Is Boris Johnson?," 19 July 2019 The general principle would seem to apply: Prosecutors are supposed to consider the impact of their actions on significant events outside the criminal-justice system, and to act with due diffidence. — Michael B. Mukasey, WSJ, "The Russia Indictments: Why Now?," 16 July 2018 Thomas’s gentle diffidence, and his director’s fiercely rigorous style, leave his motives denser than unproved sourdough. — Ofir Raul Graizer, New York Times, "Review: A German ‘Cakemaker’ and an Israeli Widow Share Loss and Cookies," 28 June 2018 The failure of Jimmy Carter’s one term in office (the product of a combination of his own shortcomings, congressional diffidence, and energy shocks engineered by OPEC) became a central theme of Republican messaging for decades. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Poll: Barack Obama Was the Greatest President of Our Lifetime," 11 July 2018 Truthful to Julie's pre-feminist heart, Mueller adopts a tender diffidence. — Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, "What 'My Fair Lady' and 'Carousel' bring to Broadway that 'Mean Girls' does not," 17 May 2018 To him, my diffidence may as well be a foreign language. — Annie Tritt, Vox, "I photograph trans and nonbinary kids. It’s made me rethink my own gender.," 28 Mar. 2018 The decision to sack Rex Tillerson on Tuesday morning, without telling him face-to-face, is -- as of this hour -- the most glaring example of Trump's sudden-onset diffidence. — Gregory Krieg, CNN, "Trump's new tagline: 'You were fired! A few hours ago'," 13 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diffidence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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