self-reproof

noun

self-re·​proof ˌself-ri-ˈprüf How to pronounce self-reproof (audio)
plural self-reproofs
: harsh criticism or disapproval of oneself : self-reproach
felt self-reproof for her mistakes
That's also what made her real, and relatable, and what Falco brought so fully to the role—that gnawing sense of self-doubt, and self-reproof, which spilled over into acts of self-destruction.Verne Gay
also : an instance or expression of self-reproof
Alice discreetly shrouded his [Claude Monet's] 14 Cézannes to spare him agonised self-reproofs before the master whom he most admired. Ross King

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-reproof was circa 1631

Dictionary Entries Near self-reproof

Cite this Entry

“Self-reproof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-reproof. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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