self-conscious

American  

[self-kon-shuhs, self-] / ˈsɛlfˈkɒn ʃəs, ˌsɛlf- /

adjective

1. excessively aware of being observed by others.

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

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self-conscious British  

adjective

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

2. conscious of one's existence

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• self-consciously
  adverb
• self-consciousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of self-conscious

First recorded in 1670–80

Explanation

Use the adjective self-conscious to describe someone who is ill at ease or uncomfortable with himself. A self-conscious person might worry about how he looks or whether he's saying the right things. Being self-conscious goes beyond just being aware of yourself — when you're self-conscious, you constantly question the way you appear to others. You might feel self-conscious when you stand in front of a group to give a speech, or when you're trying out for a movie or a play. The word first meant "conscious of one's own action" when it emerged in the 1680s, and by 1830s it had come to mean "preoccupied with one's own personality."

Example Sentences

But classic feels too fusty and self-conscious, even though “Hokum” has all the tropes: looming figures, clanging bells, ominous dumbwaiters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

The six-part drama, written by and starring Gadd, follows three decades in the lives of self-conscious Niall and volatile Ruben, who were once inseparable as teens.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Frank Poulsen has dementia, and like many people with memory loss, he often feels self-conscious in social situations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

"You're self-conscious about that. It will always be there."

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026

For some reason the conversation had begun to make him self-conscious.

From "Son" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

• anxious
• awkward
• bashful
• embarrassed
• mannered
• nervous
• sheepish
• shy
• stiff
• stilted
• uncomfortable
• uneasy
• unsure