diffident
4
8.0
- adjective
- /ˈdɪfɪdənt/
:
tímido
- He stood in the corner of the room, diffident and hesitant to join the conversation.
- diffident smile
- diffident manner
- diffident voice
Narcissistic people are the least secure, most diffident people on earth.
- Narcissistic people are the least secure, most diffident people on earth.
- You'll see that diffident, aloof, cold, rejecting, sometimes even envious narcissistic parents.
Examples
-
Just 45 years old, the new secretary-general seemed very young and diffident.
Academic text (2006) -
Cat shook her head lightly, a kind of diffident shrug of puzzlement.
Fiction book (1997) -
Here am I-- a shy, diffident sort of man.
-
Some parents were assured; some were diffident, like his mother had been.
Fiction book (1994) -
Can you imagine so diffident a lover, monsieur?
-
Say, who was that rather diffident chap I saw you talking to 'round the back?
-
Walter was simply diffident and courtly, almost Old World, more comfortable with books than with people.
Fiction book (1995) -
"Closed some doors," Jaxom said with a diffident shrug.
Fiction book (1991) -
Eero gazed at the floor with a diffident shrug.
Fiction book (1996) -
He's a sweet-tempered, amiable young man, though a bit diffident and retiring for his family's tastes.
Fiction book (1998)
Synonyms
343
1.0
Nervous and likely to avoid people or new situations
131
3.4
Not confident about yourself or your skills
89
1.5
Not confident or certain about what to do
73
3.2
Slow to act or speak because you feel unsure
60
3.5
Shy and afraid to do new or risky things
20
5.8
A person or thing that is not proud and not showy
18
3.2
Shy and easily embarrassed, avoiding attention
17
7.9
Not willing to talk about thoughts or feelings easily
7
7.4
Not wanting attention and being modest
4
6.3
Not willing to talk or give information
1
8.6
Feeling nervous and lacking confidence in new situations
1
9.9
Feeling shy and unsure about what to do
1
4.0
Feeling unsure about yourself or your abilities
1
6.2
Not confident about saying what you think or want
Not confident and acting unsure
Someone who is not forceful and does not push opinions, often quiet and easy to work with
Not willing to show feelings or talk much
A person who does not say opinions or feelings openly
Unwilling to talk or answer questions
Not talking much and not showing strong feelings
Someone who is quiet and prefers to be alone instead of being with others
Antonyms
How Shy
Surface Forms
Morphology
diffident = dif + fid + ent
Although 'dif-' (variant of dis-) and the adjectival suffix '-ent' are present, the root 'fid' is not a standalone English word and the modern sense 'shy, lacking confidence' is not transparently derivable for an average B1 learner.
Etymology
Diffident comes from Latin parts dis- meaning 'not' and fidere meaning 'to trust', the same root you see in confident and in the word 'faith'. So a diffident person does not trust their own abilities and is shy or lacking confidence.