definitions

diffident

[ dif-i-duhnt ]
/ ˈdɪf ɪ dənt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR diffident ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy.
restrained or reserved in manner, conduct, etc.
Archaic. distrustful.

RELATED WORDS

sheepish, demure, meek, self-effacing, bashful, unassuming, timid, self-conscious, shy, unsure, backward, chary, coy, distrustful, doubtful, dubious, humble, insecure, modest, mousy

Nearby words

differently, difficile, difficult, difficulty, diffidence, diffident, diffidently, diffluence, diffluent, difflugia, diffract

Origin of diffident

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin diffīdent- (stem of diffīdēns mistrusting, despairing, present participle of diffīdere), equivalent to dif- dif- + fīd- trust + -ent- -ent
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for diffident

British Dictionary definitions for diffident

diffident

/ (ˈdɪfɪdənt) /

adjective

lacking self-confidence; timid; shy
Derived Formsdiffidence, noundiffidently, adverb

Word Origin for diffident

C15: from Latin diffīdere to distrust, from dis- not + fīdere to trust
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for diffident

diffident

adj.

mid-15c., from Latin diffidentem (nominative diffidens), present participle of diffidere (see diffidence). Related: Diffidently.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper