unselfconscious
1
7.0
- adjective
- /ˌʌnˌsɛlfˈkɒnʃəs/
- 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
14
6.9
Expressing feelings and thoughts freely without embarrassment
12
7.0
Not embarrassed about what you say or do
8
5.1
Simple and honest in style and not trying to impress people
7
7.4
Not wanting attention and being modest
5
4.6
Not sorry or embarrassed about what you do
1
5.0
Not feeling shy or awkward and acting calm and confident
1
4.8
Natural and sincere, without pretending
1
6.0
Speech or action that feels natural and not planned
1
6.3
Natural and simple in behavior, not formal or fake
1
6.5
Natural and relaxed rather than stiff or formal
Not trying to seem important or very formal
Antonyms
How Self-Conscious
62
4.6
125
3.4
414
1.0
1
7.0
426
1.0
14
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.