Meaning & use
lacking confidence
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
not feeling sure about your own abilities or worth; not self-assured
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', 'feel': 'He felt lacking confidence.' It can also describe a performance or team: 'a team lacking confidence'.
Patterns
- be lacking confidence
- feel lacking confidence
- seem lacking confidence
- someone is lacking confidence in something
After failing the exam twice, he was lacking confidence and almost gave up.
The new employee seemed lacking confidence during her first presentation.
Children who are constantly criticized can become lacking confidence in their own ideas.
Common combinations
- be lacking confidence
- She was lacking confidence before the interview but did well anyway.
- feel lacking confidence
- I feel lacking confidence when I have to speak in public.
- lacking confidence in
- The public is lacking confidence in the economy.
- a bit lacking confidence
- He's a bit lacking confidence, but he's learning fast.
Synonyms and how they differ
- insecure
- This is a more general feeling of not being good enough, often about yourself, while 'lacking confidence' can be about a specific skill or situation.
- unsure of yourself
- This focuses on doubt about your own judgment or ability and is slightly less common than 'lacking confidence'.
- diffident
- This is a formal word meaning shy and not confident, often used in writing rather than speech.
Opposites
Word family
- confidence noun
- the feeling that you can do things well
- confident adjective
- feeling sure about your abilities
- confidently adverb
- in a way that shows you are sure of yourself
Commonly confused: lacking confidence or confidant?
lacking confidence vs confidant
A 'confidant' is a person you trust with secrets. It sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
Practice
After the team lost five games in a row, the players were clearly _______ confidence.
Choose one answer.
The correct phrase is 'lacking confidence' without a preposition. 'Lacking in' would be used with a different noun, e.g. 'lacking in confidence' is possible but less common here; however, 'lacking confidence' is the standard phrase. 'Lack' and 'lacked' are verb forms and would not follow 'were' in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lacking confidence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.