self-esteem

noun

self-es·​teem ˌself-ə-ˈstēm How to pronounce self-esteem (audio)
Synonyms of self-esteemnext
1
: a confidence and satisfaction in oneself : self-respect
2

Examples of self-esteem in a Sentence

friends and family have tried to help the shy child develop some self-esteem his towering self-esteem made praise from other people entirely unnecessary the kind of self-esteem that a struggling actor needs to keep going in the face of constant discouragement and rejection
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In more severe cases, PCOS can be devastating for the person’s self-esteem and quality of life. Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 1 Apr. 2026 Unkind words and thoughts from your harshest critic (yourself) are all too common, especially for women, and their effects can diminish mood, confidence and self-esteem while positive ones can have the opposite impact. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Mar. 2026 Seeing changes from our efforts can boost our self-esteem, morale for our community, and our sense of agency in making change at a larger scale. Essence, 26 Mar. 2026 Lee said the benefits of art camp include boosts in self-esteem, building friendships, learning to work as a team, and learning to make a mess and clean up after themselves. Gqlshare, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-esteem

Word History

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-esteem was in 1619

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-esteem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-esteem. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

self-esteem

noun
self-es·​teem
ˌsel-fə-ˈstēm
1
: a confidence and satisfaction in oneself : self-respect
2
: an exaggerated opinion of one's own abilities : self-conceit

More from Merriam-Webster on self-esteem

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster