Meaning & use
diffidence
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Meaning
noununcountableformal
A lack of belief in your own ability, which makes you hesitant to speak or act.
Grammar: A mass noun: he spoke with diffidence.
Patterns
- with diffidence
- diffidence about something
She spoke with diffidence, unsure her idea was good enough.
His diffidence kept him from applying for the promotion.
Diffidence made the young writer hide her best poems.
Common combinations
- with diffidence
- He asked the question with diffidence.
- natural diffidence
- Her natural diffidence made public speaking hard.
- overcome diffidence
- It took years to overcome his diffidence.
- a certain diffidence
- She had a certain diffidence about asking for help.
- diffidence about
- His diffidence about his talent was charming.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shyness
- Shyness is the everyday word for feeling nervous around people, while diffidence centers on doubting your own ability.
- timidity
- Timidity suggests fear of danger or conflict, rather than self-doubt.
- modesty
- Modesty is a positive quality of not boasting, whereas diffidence is a lack of confidence that may hold you back.
- insecurity
- Insecurity is a deeper, broader anxiety about oneself, and is less formal.
Opposites
Word family
- diffident adjective
- lacking confidence and hesitant
- diffidently adverb
- in a shy, hesitant way
- confidence noun
- belief in yourself; from the same root, but opposite in meaning
- confident adjective
- sure of yourself
Commonly confused: diffidence or difference? diffidence or indifference?
diffidence vs difference
A difference is the way two things are not alike; it is spelled with a different middle and has an unrelated meaning.
diffidence vs indifference
Indifference is a lack of interest or concern, while diffidence is a lack of confidence.
Practice
Her ___ about her singing kept her from joining the choir, though she had a lovely voice.
Choose one answer.
Diffidence is lack of self-confidence, which explains why a talented person holds back. Indifference means lack of interest, which would not fit someone who wants to sing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “diffidence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.