self-effacing
7
7.4
- adjective
- /ˌsɛlf ɪˈfeɪsɪŋ/
:
modesto
- There was nothing servile or self-effacing about the way he moved or acted.
- self-effacing tendency
They're flexible, warm, kind, empathic, patient, self effacing, sweet, good people.
- They're flexible, warm, kind, empathic, patient, self effacing, sweet, good people.
- This woman is so loving, nurturing, self effacing, whatever, she's going to go to heaven.
- He personally goes through the sewers to clean them out and he just has this great set of qualities that he's very self effacing.
- Sometimes even if you try that kind of self effacing sarcasm in a narcissistic relationship, they will look at you oddly and say huh what?
- I really love that as a word and what it describes, I think is Oliver Berkman and Alan de Botton's approach this sort of very self effacing.
Examples
-
Humbleness was expressed less overtly as the self-effacing features of the counselors' personalities came through in different ways.
Academic text (2011) -
My very reserved, correct, self-effacing friend was a media celebrity, suddenly the most famous scientist in Italy.
Academic text (1994) -
They're flexible, warm, kind, empathic, patient, self effacing, sweet, good people.
-
But despite all that, he was one of the kindest, wisest, most self-effacing persons I ever knew.
Fiction book (1992) -
"Hardy didn't want to admit it, but there was a charming, self-effacing quality to Ron Beaumont.
Fiction book (1999) -
He is known for his humility, integrity, self effacing humor, and his wonderful way of connecting with everyone he meets.
-
If we have lost in Justin and Tessa... ...two valued friends, the diplomatic community has lost a true gentleman... ...courteous, self-effacing, large of heart.
-
Despite her accomplishments, she remains self-effacing, always insisting that her team deserves the credit.
-
He has a self-effacing demeanor that makes it hard to believe he is the CEO of such a successful company.
-
Her self-effacing nature is evident in how she downplays her achievements when speaking to others.
Synonyms
222
2.8
Not proud and not thinking you are better than others
81
2.7
Not thinking you are better than others and not boasting
20
5.8
A person or thing that is not proud and not showy
18
6.0
Making jokes about your own faults to seem modest
9
5.1
Simple and honest in style and not trying to impress people
1
7.8
Simple and modest in style and not trying to attract attention
Simple and modest in style or behaviour
Looks modest and simple and does not attract attention
A shy, quiet person who does not like attention
Antonyms
How Modest
Surface Forms
Morphology
self-effacing = self-efface (semi-transparent) = self + efface + ing
The term 'self-effacing' combines 'self-efface' and 'ing', but the meaning of being modest is not directly derivable from its components.
Etymology
Self-effacing puts together self ('oneself') and efface ('erase' or 'make less visible'), so you can imagine a person who 'erases' their own presence. That's why a self-effacing person is modest and does not seek attention.