EN

Synonyms for diffident

  • adjective

Most common

timid modest bashful coy shy unsure

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

1. Timid — lacking self-confidence; timid; modest

timid, modest, bashful, coy, fearful, reserved, cowardly, lowly, faint-hearted, retiring, shrinking, shamefaced, timorous, demure, backward

2. Shy

shy, unsure

Other

reluctant, scrupulous, hesitating

Antonyms

snooty, hubristic, cocky

All antonyms of diffident →

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Lacking self-confidence; timid; modest

Related words

Word family
diffidently

Example sentences

  • modest I have modest tastes. Wealth does not interest me.
  • timid She seems oddly shy and timid for a press officer.
  • coy Come on, don't act so coy, I know you're into it.
  • bashful The boy is bashful and doesn't talk much.
  • reluctant Some soldiers were reluctant to obey the commands.
  • hesitating I'm still hesitating whether to go there or not.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
diffidentsteady
modeststeady
timidsteady
coyrising
bashfulrising
reluctantsteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
shy1, coy1
5 letters
lowly2, timid2
6 letters
modest2, unsure2, demure2
7 letters
fearful2, bashful2
8 letters
reserved2, retiring3, backward2, cowardly3, timorous3
9 letters
reluctant3, shrinking2
10 letters
hesitating4, scrupulous3, shamefaced

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (lowly2 = 2 syllables).