With great diffidence I venture to point out what I conceive to be reasons for failure, and also to offer some suggestions that, if adopted, will, I believe, greatly minimise, if not remove, certain evils.
Source: tatoeba (11691775)
Diffidence
/ˈdɪfɪdəns/
Synonyms for "diffidence" (91 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (19)
Strong matches (27)
dubiousnessfalterfalteringfearfearfulnesshalf-beliefhesitancehesitancyhesitatinghesitationhumilityjumpinesslack of self-confidencelack of self-relianceleerinessmisdoubtmisgivingmistrustmistrustfulnessmodesty
Show 4 more words
Noun(3 words)
Related words (45)
Noun(9 words)
qualmqualm of consciencequalmishnessquestionrecoilscruplescrupulosityscrupulousnessself-depreciationself-detractionself-distrustself-doubtself-effacementshadow of doubtshameshilly shallyingshilly-shallyshilly-shallyingshrinkingshrinkingness
Show 16 more words
shynessskepticalnessskepticismskittishnessstage frightstartlishnesssticklingsuspicionsuspiciousnesstentativenesstimiditytimorousnesstotal skepticismuncertaintywarinessweak ego
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: afraidness, apprehension, bashfulness, bashfulness, boggle.
- Sentence evidence is available for diffidence, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "diffidence".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "diffidence"
Keep "diffidence" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "diffidence" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "diffidence", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "diffidence" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesdiscourse strategyemotional statelinguistic strategypersonality traitpsychological statetimiditytimidnesstimorousness
More specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriesacademic diffidenceclinical diffidenceextreme diffidencepersistent diffidencepublic diffidencequiet diffidence
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
8 total sentences available.
Without scruple—without apology—without much apparent diffidence, Mr. Elton, the lover of Harriet, was professing himself her lover.
Source: wiktionary
I have the same diffidence in my feelings that most public speakers have, and am apt to think that others can speak better and more edifying than I can.
Source: wiktionary
"I was passing by," he began to stammer, trembling with his diffidence, "I—happened to be passing along this way, and so—er—as I was passing this way, I says to myself, says I, 'I'll just stop into the shop a minute.'
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 8 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "diffidence"?
Closest matches include afraidness, apprehension, bashfulness, bashfulness, boggle.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "diffidence"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.