unassertive

as in meek
not talking or behaving in a loud and confident way a modest, unassertive person an unassertive manner

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unassertive Avoiding is unassertive and uncooperative, where an individual tends to give up on their own needs and acquiesce to the desires of others by disengaging from the situation altogether. Ellen Choi, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unassertive
Adjective
  • Antoinette becomes a de facto leader when her meek husband crumbles under pressure.
    Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
  • The end of season 2 turned the tables on the meek Ada and domineering Agnes when Agnes lost her fortune thanks to her son Oscar (Blake Ritson) trusting the wrong people.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • During the Depression, smart cooks came up with a way to make a delicious, family-friendly dessert that required the most humble ingredients.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Today, the humble spud is the world’s third most important staple crop, providing critical calorie intake for billions of people.
    Jay Kakade July 31, New Atlas, 31 July 2025
Adjective
  • The front is modest, but the oval cutout in the back gives it extra flair.
    Claire Harmeyer, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The cognitive improvements found in studies were modest.
    Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This has made the White Sox timid to deal the outfielder.
    Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
  • Bangladesh needs a new economic plan and the interim government may be too timid to pursue it.
    Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unassertive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unassertive. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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