self-conscious

[self-kon-shuhs, self-]

adjective

1. excessively aware of being observed by others.

2. conscious of oneself or one's own being.

self-conscious

adjective

1. unduly aware of oneself as the object of the attention of others; embarrassed

2. conscious of one's existence

Other Word Forms

• self-consciously adverb
• self-consciousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-conscious¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

Amid the film’s self-conscious depiction of a brewing tempest, he remains a true force of nature.

From Los Angeles Times

Then I realized she too might have just felt self-conscious to be on TV.

From Los Angeles Times

She had been self-conscious, but as she began to meet more young people going through similar situations, she regained her confidence.

From BBC

"People have been so busy relating to how I look, it's a miracle I didn't become a self-conscious blob of protoplasm. It's not easy being Robert Redford," he once told New York magazine.

From BBC

"I had really bad acne and I felt really self-conscious."

From BBC

Related Words

• anxious 
• awkward 
• bashful 
• embarrassed www.thesaurus.com
• mannered 
• nervous 
• sheepish 
• shy 
• stiff 
• stilted 
• uncomfortable 
• uneasy 
• unsure 

When To Use

What does self-conscious mean?

Self-conscious means overly aware of and sensitive to attention from others, often to the point of feeling anxious or embarrassed.In this sense, self-conscious is always used negatively. A person can be self-conscious in general, or about a particular aspect of themselves. Much less commonly, it is used to mean aware of one’s existence.Example: She says she never wears short-sleeved shirts because she’s self-conscious about the way her arms look.