1
as in pride
a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance
friends and family have tried to help the shy child develop some self-esteem
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ego
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
his towering self-esteem made praise from other people entirely unnecessary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in confidence
great faith in oneself or one's abilities
the kind of self-esteem that a struggling actor needs to keep going in the face of constant discouragement and rejection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-esteem
The perfect smile can be the key to self-esteem, to happiness, to personal connection.
—
Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Frequent weighing can fuel anxiety and low self-esteem, particularly when weight becomes tied to self-worth.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
For as long as many of us can remember, the four-degree was a symbol of prestige—accomplishment, pride and self-esteem.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Spending time in nature can improve self-esteem, boost mood, reduce stress, and enhance well-being.7
There is also some evidence that running outside can improve your cognitive function, blood pressure, and mental health.8
4.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Frequent weighing can fuel anxiety and low self-esteem, particularly when weight becomes tied to self-worth.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
For as long as many of us can remember, the four-degree was a symbol of prestige—accomplishment, pride and self-esteem.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Spending time in nature can improve self-esteem, boost mood, reduce stress, and enhance well-being.7
There is also some evidence that running outside can improve your cognitive function, blood pressure, and mental health.8
4.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-esteem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-esteem
Noun
-
South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters party defended its inflammatory leader against President Donald Trump’s criticisms over calls for violence against white people, taking it as a sign of pride.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2025
-
From faculty and alumni to area businesses, the expressions of pride in Harvard’s stance for academic freedom are effusive.—
Jacob Posner,
Christian Science Monitor,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Just observationally, there seemed to be a very high crossover between those of you with the inflated ego to list 16 teams and those of you who thought Dallas was going to lose to Colorado.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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The result is an entirely incoherent crime thriller that features gangsters prattling on about the self and the ego and the soul and then occasionally wandering into an entirely different scene where other gangsters are prattling on about the same thing.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
Investors may perceive such appointments as a sign of internal uncertainty, potentially impacting stock performance and stakeholder confidence.—
Solange Charas,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
Want to boost your confidence, income and career success?—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Fueled by new data and shifting cultural values, injectables are being redefined—not as vanity, but as a personalized pathway to confidence, wellness, and long-term care.—
Corein Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
-
In a hot pink colorway, the clutch will become your vanity’s newest conversation piece.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
The most successful TikTok advisers may well be those who are most able to express self-confidence.—
Eliza Brooke,
Vox,
23 May 2025
-
For example, recently published research by Australian psychologists found that survey participants who practiced manifestation also perceived themselves as more successful in the present and future and demonstrated higher levels of self-confidence in achieving their goals than those who did not.—
Mara Santilli,
SELF,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
That kind of self-respect becomes a superpower for life.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
6 May 2025
-
Still, one hopes that other universities that find themselves in the administration’s crosshairs — and there are many of them now — follow Harvard’s example and make self-respect, and respect for the law, unsurprising again.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Farré has now offered those assurances, while admitting the recent exec upheaval has been emotional for everyone.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
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Murphy was formerly global head of conservation assurance at IUCN, managing director at FSC Global Development and vice president at JP Morgan.—
Claire Poole,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
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While Ramaphosa kept his composure and the meeting did not go off the rails like the infamous February meeting in the Oval Office between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the South African president was clearly put on his heels by Trump’s tactics.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
21 May 2025
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This involves behaviors like using silence effectively, speaking with conviction, and making the tough calls with composure.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-esteem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-esteem. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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