i Register
In some senses, diffident is marked as archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.
diffident
/ˈdɪfɪdənt/
adj 2
Collocations
5ADJ.
own, preferred
VERB + DIFFIDENT
don't, like
DIFFIDENT + NOUN
crab, man, nature
PREP.
on, out
ADV.
rather, such
Definitions
adj
1
Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.
2
Lacking self-confidence; timid; modest
Having therefore—but hold, as we are diffident of our own abilities, let us here invite a superior power to our assistance.
Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest of her family. At ten years old, she had the misfortune of being able to answer questions which puzzled her sister at seventeen. She was always quick and assured: Isabella slow and diffident.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
Having therefore—but hold, as we are diffident of our own abilities, let us here invite a superior power to our assistance.
Wiktionary02
Emma is spoiled by being the cleverest of her family. At ten years old, she had the misfortune of being able to answer questions which puzzled her sister at seventeen. She was always quick and assured
Wiktionary03
At an early point in these exchanges I had started to sidle to the door, and I now sidled through it, rather like a diffident crab on some sandy beach trying to avoid the attentions of a child with a
Wiktionary04
Tom is such a diffident man. He seems to have quite low self-esteem.
Tatoeba · #408461305
Being of a diffident nature, he preferred private practice to appearing in the lecture hall.
Tatoeba · #1078104506
Speak out, don't be diffident.
Tatoeba · #11147877Usage Notes
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