unassertive

adjective

un·​as·​ser·​tive ˌən-ə-ˈsər-tiv 

: not assertive : modest, shy

unassertively adverb

Examples of unassertive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Accommodating, which is unassertive and cooperative, prioritizes the needs and preferences of others over one’s own in order to maintain harmony. —Ellen Choi, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025

Shy and unassertive, she’s often been overlooked by others and kept to herself. —Yasmine Alsayyad, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2023

After a time, Patterson’s play-it-down-the-middle approach feels less like the remembrances of a Renaissance man and more like evasive, unassertive hedging. —Mark Athitakis, Washington Post, 6 June 2022

The sun, only rarely in evidence behind gray clouds, set quickly and bade us an unassertive farewell. —Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2022

My own thoughts have been along the line of weak, unassertive, super humble and timid. —Glenna Christensen, idahostatesman, 14 June 2018

Meryl Streep stars as Post owner Katherine Graham, an unassertive socialite who normally follows the journalistic lead of her editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks, playing it too cute). —John Powers, Vogue, 13 Dec. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unassertive

• assertive
• furtive

Kids Definition

unassertive

adjective

un·​as·​ser·​tive ˌən-ə-ˈsərt-iv 

: not assertive : modest, shy