diffidently
Americanadverb
-
in a way that shows lack of confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness; timidly or shyly.
He saw her approaching rather diffidently, trying to summon up her courage, smiling an uncertain smile.
-
in a restrained or reserved way.
He got them to do the right thing not by scolding or nagging, but by calmly and diffidently laying out the logic of his position.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of diffidently
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Well,” he began diffidently, “essentially I’m a writer.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025
Remarkable for a movie made entirely with nonactors, “Xiao Wu” thrives on extended scenes of personal interaction — Xiao Wu with his former friend, his parents, the police and, mainly, the diffidently wooed Mei-Mei.
From New York Times ● Jul. 21, 2021
Yes, we were responding to anonymous prompts, but we were looking, respectfully and diffidently, at a fellow human being.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2021
Manchester entered on its Victory in Europe rejoicings a little diffidently and the day was physically suited to the mood.
From The Guardian ● May 6, 2020
But she was silent beyond the spare questions and answers she asked and gave, and so Wang Lung stood diffidently on the edge of the circle and listened to the talk.
From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
