unselfconscious
2
7.0
- adjective
- /ˌʌnˌsɛlfˈkɒnʃəs/
:
natural
- During the interview, her responses were natural and unselfconscious, revealing her genuine personality.
Examples
-
Not given to existential crises, such guys tend to proceed through their work years with an unselfconscious gusto that can make life seem like a busman's holiday.
Academic text (2007) -
"I was very unselfconscious about talking about Jewish things," he said.
Academic text (2010) -
I think it was the only time we could really feel unselfconscious and get out of our heads.
-
I believe in finding ways to become unselfconscious.
Fiction book (2002) -
His hands in his lap, unselfconscious and calm, he sat watching, or rather, ingesting details of the scene.
Fiction book (1990) -
Ellie pops open a soda, unselfconscious.
Fiction book (1997) -
Our moist breaths are mingled; our limbs have fallen, unselfconscious, where they would, as though we were one body.
Fiction book (1997) -
He's an amazingly unselfconscious subject, almost an unwitting work of folk art with a title like "American Numbskull."
Blog text (7) -
She danced with an unselfconscious joy, completely lost in the moment.
-
The child's laughter was pure and unselfconscious, free from any self-awareness.
Synonyms
20
5.8
A person or thing that is not proud and not showy
15
6.9
Expressing feelings and thoughts freely without embarrassment
13
7.0
Not embarrassed about what you say or do
9
5.1
Simple and honest in style and not trying to impress people
7
7.4
Not wanting attention and being modest
6
4.6
Not sorry or embarrassed about what you do
2
4.8
Natural and sincere, without pretending
1
5.0
Not feeling shy or awkward and acting calm and confident
Natural and simple in behavior, not formal or fake
Speech or action that feels natural and not planned
Natural and relaxed rather than stiff or formal
Not trying to seem important or very formal
Antonyms
How Self-Conscious
61
4.6
131
3.4
343
1.0
2
7.0
660
1.0
15
6.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
unselfconscious = self-conscious (transparent) = un + self + conscious
The adjective is a straightforward negation of 'self-conscious' (un- + self-conscious), so learners who know 'self-conscious' will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Unselfconscious is built from un- meaning 'not', self meaning 'yourself', and conscious meaning 'aware'. So being unselfconscious is 'not aware of yourself', which explains why a person seems natural, relaxed, and not shy.