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diffident
Use
Diffident
in a sentence
dif·fi·dent
/
ˈdɪf
ɪ
dənt
/
Show Spelled
[
dif
-i-d
uh
nt
]
Show IPA
adjective
1.
lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy.
2.
restrained or reserved in manner, conduct, etc.
3.
Archaic.
distrustful
.
Origin:
1425–75;
late Middle English
<
Latin
diffīdent-
(stem of
diffīdēns
mistrusting, despairing present participle of
diffīdere
), equivalent to
dif-
dif-
+
fīd-
trust +
-ent-
-ent
Related forms
dif·fi·dent·ly,
adverb
dif·fi·dent·ness,
noun
non·dif·fi·dent,
adjective
non·dif·fi·dent·ly,
adverb
un·dif·fi·dent,
adjective
un·dif·fi·dent·ly,
adverb
Synonyms
1.
self-conscious, self-effacing, abashed, embarrassed, modest, unassuming, unconfident. See
shy
1
.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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diffident
Relevant Questions
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What Is Diffidence?
00:10
Diffident
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is
inveigh
. Does it mean:
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truncate
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neophyte
. Does it mean:
to protest strongly or attack vehemently with words
to become spread throughout all parts of
to shorten by cutting off a part; cut short:
promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable:
a beginner or novice:
a regional form of a language, esp. of French, differing from the standard, literary form of the language.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
diffident
(ˈdɪfɪdənt)
—
adj
lacking self-confidence; timid; shy
[C15: from Latin
diffīdere
to distrust, from
dis-
not +
fīdere
to trust]
'diffidence
—
n
'diffidently
—
adv
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
diffident
1590s, from L. diffidentem, prp. of diffidere (see
diffidence
). Related: Diffidently.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Yet, despite the bragging, it seemed to me a
diffident
and unconfident
performance.
The oppressive fear of criticism was gone, but a
diffident
loneliness remained.
He has attracted many students from the fringe of prejudice who for various
reasons felt
diffident
about the other race.
He is
diffident
but correct in his mannerisms, and his final revolt is in good,
quiet taste.
He is a better speaker now than the stiff,
diffident
figure who three months ago announced his candidacy.
But there was nothing modest or
diffident
about her ambitions.
He liked to tease and shock
diffident
people, and had an inexhaustible supply of funny stories.
Sometimes the interaction produces
diffident
, (apparently) submissive women who scurry to obey the men's commands.
She's more reserved and
diffident
, he's a chatterbox.
It is even more
diffident
in offering how-to advice on calling decisive turns in the market.
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Matching Quote
"The British are a self-distrustful,
diffident
people, agreeing with alacrity that they are neither successful nor clever, and only modestly claiming that they have a keener sense of humour, more robust common sense, and greater staying power as a nation than all the rest of the world put together."
-unknown author
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Synonyms
self-conscious
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unassuming
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