as in meek
not talking or behaving in a loud and confident way
a modest, unassertive person an unassertive manner
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Recent Examples of unassertive
This film, so seemingly unassertive, apparently rambling and plotless, has a devastating impact and aftershock.
—
Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
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
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
Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
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
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
-
The series centers on Cha Myung-jo, a meek worker at a company producing imitation character stickers who, despite nominally heading his household, lives in the shadow of his far more capable wife.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 June 2026
-
Talarico’s Jesus is meek and mild, a man of heart rather than ego.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
Hockney came from humble beginnings.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
-
This humble abode is the product of a new Keller ISD program that encourages students to gain real-world skills before entering the working world.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
If natural gas rates are relatively low in your area, the cost savings from improved efficiency will be more modest.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
-
Even as bitcoin has become easier for mainstream investors to own — including through the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs in 2024 — its dramatic price swings have remained a defining feature of the asset, underscoring why many financial planners continue to recommend modest allocations.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
In her early public appearances, she was often seen with her head bowed and her gaze upward, a posture that, alongside her soft-spoken demeanor, led the British press to characterize her as timid and reserved.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
-
David Fine as Scorpius does an enormous amount of heavy lifting by injecting urgency and pathos, despite his character’s timid personality.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unassertive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unassertive. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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