self-conscious

[self-kon-shuh s, self-]

See more synonyms for self-conscious on Thesaurus.com

adjective

excessively aware of being observed by others.
conscious of oneself or one's own being.

Origin of self-conscious

First recorded in 1670–80

Related formsself-con·scious·ly, adverbself-con·scious·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for self-conscious

Contemporary Examples

Colors more likely to be seen during Carnival in Rio than on any self-conscious American are hits.
How Sneaker Culture Conquered the World
William O’Connor
March 16, 2014
Rowe said Jackson was self-conscious about his skin troubles and often likened himself to the Elephant Man.
Up to Speed: 5 Key Moments From the Michael Jackson AEG Trial
Christine Pelisek
September 28, 2013
The audience responded with self-conscious groans and moans as if to suggest that Meyers had crossed some sacred line.
CFDA Honors Behind-the-Scenes Fashion Stars and Understated Style
Robin Givhan
June 5, 2012
The Great War was a self-conscious war, he says: “the story of effects generating their cause.”
Geoff Dyer's 'The Missing of the Somme' Reconsidered
Louisa Thomas
November 11, 2011
But instead of evoking luxurious joy, the result was labored and self-conscious.
The Look That Defined Fashion Week
Robin Givhan
September 16, 2011

Historical Examples

In this vast but connected universe we are not the only self-conscious beings.
The Comrade In White
W. H. Leathem
The boy drew himself up with a self-conscious air as he replied.
Almost A Man
Mary Wood-Allen
This power, the army, was organized in the council and was self-conscious.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VI (of VIII)
Various
But the bulk of the players, though all were earnest and fervent, were clumsy or self-conscious.
Dreamers of the Ghetto
I. Zangwill
If she hadn't been self-conscious she would never have said such a thing as that.
Love and Lucy
Maurice Henry Hewlett

British Dictionary definitions for self-conscious

self-conscious

adjective

unduly aware of oneself as the object of the attention of others; embarrassed
conscious of one's existence

Derived Formsself-consciously, adverbself-consciousness, noun

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 self-conscious

adj.

1680s, "aware of one's action," a word of the English Enlightenment (Locke was using it by 1690), from self- + conscious. Morbid sense of "preoccupied with one's own personality" is attested from 1834 (in J.S. Mill). Related: Self-consciously; self-consciousness.

self-conscious

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}self-conscious

Examples from the Web for self-conscious

Contemporary Examples

Colors more likely to be seen during Carnival in Rio than on any self-conscious American are hits.

Rowe said Jackson was self-conscious about his skin troubles and often likened himself to the Elephant Man.

The audience responded with self-conscious groans and moans as if to suggest that Meyers had crossed some sacred line.

The Great War was a self-conscious war, he says: “the story of effects generating their cause.”

But instead of evoking luxurious joy, the result was labored and self-conscious.

Historical Examples

In this vast but connected universe we are not the only self-conscious beings.

The boy drew himself up with a self-conscious air as he replied.

This power, the army, was organized in the council and was self-conscious.

But the bulk of the players, though all were earnest and fervent, were clumsy or self-conscious.

If she hadn't been self-conscious she would never have said such a thing as that.

self-conscious

Word Origin and History for self-conscious

adj.

Origin of self-conscious