self-effacing


adjective
  1. tending to make oneself, one's actions, etc, inconspicuous, esp because of humility or timidity; modest

Derived forms of self-effacing

  • self-effacingly, adverb

Words Nearby self-effacing

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

How to use self-effacing in a sentence

  • When she retired from those boards, she found a home with her self-effacing husband in Auteuil, and there died in 1698.

  • To his military ability and self-effacing patriotism he added a far-seeing wisdom in council that could always be relied upon.

  • Cottrell was an excellent riverman, active as a squirrel and ready to take any chances, but extremely quiet and self-effacing.

    The Boss of Wind River | David Goodger (goodger@python.org)
  • They had entirely forgotten the self-effacing secretary, but the noise of their dying laughter did not disturb him.

    The Star Lord | Boyd Ellanby
  • He was quiet and self-effacing, also he was decent and he was kindly.

    Ladies and Gentlemen  | Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury) Cobb