self-deprecation

[ self-dep-ri-key-shuhn, self- ]

noun
  1. the act or habit of belittling or undervaluing oneself; excessive modesty, often as a form of humor: There’s no need for self-deprecation—you're doing fine and shouldn’t be worried about your shortcomings.At the luau, the Hawaiian chief's deadpan delivery, self-deprecation, and gentle mockery of tourists was hilarious.

Origin of self-deprecation

1
First recorded in 1840–45; self- + deprecation
  • Also self-de·pre·ci·a·tion [self-di-pree-shee-ey-shuhn, self-] /ˌsɛlf dɪˌpri ʃiˈeɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf-/ .

Words Nearby self-deprecation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use self-deprecation in a sentence