as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
he's dating a sweet, self-effacing girl
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Recent Examples of self-effacing
The actor-director, in typical self-effacing fashion, doesn't claim to have solved the problem of the Holocaust film in making one himself.
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Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
Here, Rowlands plays Sarah Lawson, a self-effacing love addict with no sense of self beyond her relation to others.
—Emma Madden, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2024
On the trail, this involves a delicate pairing of self-effacing anecdote and grand proclamation.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Our self-effacing narrator is Victor (Mouret regular Vincent Macaigne), the schlubby, doting husband of high-school English teacher Joan (India Hair), who is beginning to feel stifled by his unwavering devotion.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-effacing 
Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
Here, Rowlands plays Sarah Lawson, a self-effacing love addict with no sense of self beyond her relation to others.
—Emma Madden, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2024
On the trail, this involves a delicate pairing of self-effacing anecdote and grand proclamation.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Our self-effacing narrator is Victor (Mouret regular Vincent Macaigne), the schlubby, doting husband of high-school English teacher Joan (India Hair), who is beginning to feel stifled by his unwavering devotion.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-effacing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-effacing
Adjective
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But the film doesn’t glamorize Callas, and instead portrays her as sad and withdrawn.Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
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Think of how the finale opening dwells on Georgie never getting a handshake this season — Paul left her hanging twice with an extended, and then a withdrawn, hand!Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In its third-quarter earnings report in October, Tesla reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 8%, which fell just shy of estimates.Lora Kolodny,Ari Levy, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
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Billy Wagner, who finished five votes shy of entering the Hall, also returns to the ballot this year.Scott Thompson, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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On a team of superstars, Salaam was a bashful giant, deferential and unselfish to the last.Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
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Of the three all-time men’s players who’ve dominated this era of the game—Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic—Nadal seemed to be the most bashful of the three.Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024
Articles Related to self-effacing
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Cite this Entry
“Self-effacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-effacing. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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