diffidence

[ dif-i-duh ns ]
/ ˈdɪf ɪ dəns /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR diffidence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the quality or state of being diffident.

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Test your memory on these verbal firecrackers from the week of June 29 to July 5!
Question 1 of 7
anchorite
a granular metamorphic rock.
a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.
a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of diffidence

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin diffīdentia mistrust, want of confidence. See diffident, -ence

OTHER WORDS FROM diffidence

non·dif·fi·dence, noun

Words nearby diffidence

differentiation, differentiator, difficile, difficult, difficulty, diffidence, diffident, diffluence, diffluent, difflugia, diffract
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to diffidence

constraint, modesty, hesitation, backwardness, timidity, insecurity, meekness, reluctance, shyness, doubt, humility, fear, timidness, reserve

Example sentences from the Web for diffidence