'Diffidence' definitions:
Definition of 'diffidence'
(from WordNet)
noun
Definition of 'Diffidence'
From: GCIDE
- Diffidence \Dif"fi*dence\, n. [L. diffidentia.]
- 1. The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]
- That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me down even to a diffidence of God's mercy. --Donne. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness. [1913 Webster]
- It is good to speak on such questions with diffidence. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
- An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness of address. --W. Irving.
- Syn: Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear; timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See Humility, and Bashfulness. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'diffidence'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- afraidness,
- apprehension,
- bashfulness,
- boggle,
- boggling,
- caution,
- cautiousness,
- compunction,
- demur,
- demurral,
- distrust,
- distrustfulness,
- doubt,
- doubtfulness,
- dubiety,
- dubiousness,
- falter,
- faltering,
- fearfulness,
- half-belief,
- hesitance,
- hesitancy,
- hesitating,
- hesitation,
- jumpiness,
- lack of self-confidence,
- lack of self-reliance,
- leeriness,
- misdoubt,
- misgiving,
- mistrust,
- mistrustfulness,
- modesty,
- objection,
- pause,
- protest,
- Pyrrhonism,
- qualm,
- qualm of conscience,
- qualmishness,
- question,
- recoil,
- scruple,
- scrupulosity,
- scrupulousness,
- self-depreciation,
- self-detraction,
- self-distrust,
- self-doubt,
- self-effacement,
- shadow of doubt,
- shilly-shally,
- shilly-shallying,
- shrinking,
- shrinkingness,
- shyness,
- skepticalness,
- skepticism,
- skittishness,
- stage fright,
- startlishness,
- stickling,
- suspicion,
- suspiciousness,
- tentativeness,
- timidity,
- timorousness,
- total skepticism,
- uncertainty,
- wariness,
- weak ego