as in shy
not comfortable around people
for someone who makes a living performing for other people, the actress is remarkably diffident in real life
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Recent Examples of diffident
Only a monumental defeat could stop South Africa qualifying for the semifinals so there was a rather diffident air to proceedings.
—
Tim Ellis, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
In 2022, Quan starred as Waymond Wang, a seemingly diffident husband who transforms into a martial arts expert when crossing multiverses to save his family in the Daniels’ wild and emotional film Everything Everywhere All at Once.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2025
Consider Chatterton’s Fields of This, an exemplary case study, as the hazy slacker rock the Oxnard, California, duo of guitarist-keyboardist Brock Pierce and multi-instrumentalist Logan Scrivner dream up is brash yet diffident.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
In the light of Rifkin’s diffident anguish, the heartfelt whimsy of these scenes plays like Allen’s own nostalgic reminiscence of his early, funny stuff—and of the way that his life used to be.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
Watching an early appearance of Melanie on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson only left me more intrigued about her ambivalent relationship toward fame: How could the same person be so confident and charismatic behind a guitar, but so diffident and uncomfortable chatting with Carson?
—Joseph Fenity, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2024
Many Israelis are critical of his fractious handling of the country before the Oct. 7 attack and resent his diffident treatment of the families of hostages held in Gaza.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2024
The truculent and diffident teen-ager, all floppy hair and hormones, disruptively acts out his frustrations, while nonetheless becoming a good big brother to the two girls; meanwhile, his sparks of playful flirtation with Anne ignite an uncontrollable conflagration of desire.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2023
As reluctant hero Pippin, Dallaire can’t help but be appealing with his diffident smile and locks of Owen Wilson-style hair.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2023
Tim Ellis, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
In 2022, Quan starred as Waymond Wang, a seemingly diffident husband who transforms into a martial arts expert when crossing multiverses to save his family in the Daniels’ wild and emotional film Everything Everywhere All at Once.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2025
Consider Chatterton’s Fields of This, an exemplary case study, as the hazy slacker rock the Oxnard, California, duo of guitarist-keyboardist Brock Pierce and multi-instrumentalist Logan Scrivner dream up is brash yet diffident.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
In the light of Rifkin’s diffident anguish, the heartfelt whimsy of these scenes plays like Allen’s own nostalgic reminiscence of his early, funny stuff—and of the way that his life used to be.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
Watching an early appearance of Melanie on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson only left me more intrigued about her ambivalent relationship toward fame: How could the same person be so confident and charismatic behind a guitar, but so diffident and uncomfortable chatting with Carson?
—Joseph Fenity, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2024
Many Israelis are critical of his fractious handling of the country before the Oct. 7 attack and resent his diffident treatment of the families of hostages held in Gaza.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2024
The truculent and diffident teen-ager, all floppy hair and hormones, disruptively acts out his frustrations, while nonetheless becoming a good big brother to the two girls; meanwhile, his sparks of playful flirtation with Anne ignite an uncontrollable conflagration of desire.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2023
As reluctant hero Pippin, Dallaire can’t help but be appealing with his diffident smile and locks of Owen Wilson-style hair.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diffident
Adjective
-
Those directly involved, however, were never shy to say that Jones’ role and level of play proved critical for a group that went from one of the NFL’s worst to among its very best.—
Parker Gabriel,
The Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2025
-
An important late-season matchup is in store, as Brighton (43 points, 8th place) and Fulham (42 points, 9th place) sit only a few points shy of Nottingham Forest (48 points, 3rd place) in the Premier League table.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Nicky Jam has released his first project since facing stark backlash for his (withdrawn) endorsement of Donald Trump.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Children may express anxiety by becoming distant, withdrawn, agitated, upset, or avoiding social contact.8 4.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
While maybe not made for the bashful, the floor-to-ceiling glass doors are incredible at expanding the space—and enjoying every last drop of water from the shower.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Jan. 2025
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Smith’s ambition to present a no-frills establishment is no indication of a bashful pedigree.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Detroit Free Press,
6 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Diffident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diffident. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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