Diffident
/ˈdɪfɪdənt/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Diffident describes a person who feels unsure or shy about themselves. They may not speak loudly or clearly because they do not feel confident. It often shows a quiet, reserved behavior because of low self-confidence or fear of making mistakes.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Lacking confidence in oneself
- •She was diffident about giving the presentation in front of the class.
- •His diffident manner made it hard for him to speak up in meetings.
- •The diffident child stayed close to her mother in the new place.
Showing hesitation or reserve because of low self-confidence
- •He gave a diffident smile when praised for his work.
- •Her diffident voice made it difficult to hear her opinion.
- •The diffident student asked a question but quickly sat down.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "diffident" like "shy," but more about not trusting yourself rather than just being quiet
- ✓Picture a small bird hiding behind leaves, careful and quiet because it feels unsure
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you want to say something but worry it might be wrong or not good enough
- ✓Sounds like "DIFF-i-dent" → imagine someone being different (diff-) and hesitant, like a student unsure about answering a question
- ✓Think of a new student in class who doesn’t raise their hand because they feel unsure about their answer
- ✓NOT like "confident" (sure and bold), diffident is about doubt and hesitation inside
- ✓NOT like "quiet" (only about sound), diffident is about feeling unsure and lacking confidence inside
- ✓NOT like "timid" (fearful or nervous), diffident is more about low self-trust than fear
Try Other Words
- •Timid: easily frightened or nervous (Use when fear is the main reason for hesitation)
- •Reserved: keeping thoughts and feelings private (Use when someone is quiet by choice, not because of low confidence)
- •Hesitant: unsure or slow to act (Use when someone delays action because of doubt or uncertainty)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "dif-" (variation of "dis-") meaning "not" or "lack of"
- •Root: "fid" from Latin "fidere" meaning "to trust" or "to believe"
- •Suffix: "-ent" meaning "having the quality of"
- •Etymology: From Latin "diffīdens," meaning "not trusting"
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe lack of confidence or self-trust
- •Modern usage: Describes people who are shy or uncertain about themselves, especially in social or speaking situations
Reflect & Connect
•How can being diffident affect the way people express their ideas in groups or at work?
•Can someone be diffident in one situation but confident in another? What might cause this difference?
Fill in the blanks
1.She felt diffident ___ speaking in front of a large audience because she was not sure of her words.
2.His diffident smile showed he was ___ proud of his achievement.
3.Unlike confident people, diffident individuals often ___ to share their opinions openly.
4.When someone is diffident, they might speak ___ or with a quiet voice.
5.A diffident person may ___ hesitation before answering a question.
6.Diffident behavior is different from being shy because it focuses more on ___ in oneself.
7.The teacher encouraged the diffident student to ___ more during class discussions.