'Diffident' definitions:
Definition of 'diffident'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Showing modest reserve; "she was diffident when offering a comment on the professor's lecture"
adjective
Definition of 'Diffident'
From: GCIDE
- Diffident \Dif"fi*dent\, a. [L. diffidens, -entis, p. pr. of diffidere; dif- = dis + fidere to trust; akin to fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Defy.]
- 1. Wanting confidence in others; distrustful. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]
- You were always extremely diffident of their success. --Melmoth. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Wanting confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve. [1913 Webster]
- The diffident maidens, Folding their hands in prayer. --Longfellow.
- Syn: Distrustful; suspicious; hesitating; doubtful; modest; bashful; lowly; reserved. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'diffident'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- bashful,
- boggling,
- cautious,
- cowardly,
- coy,
- demure,
- demurring,
- deprecative,
- deprecatory,
- faltering,
- fearful,
- fearing,
- fearsome,
- goosy,
- hesitant,
- hesitating,
- in fear,
- jibbing,
- jumpy,
- modest,
- mousy,
- nervous,
- qualmish,
- rabbity,
- reluctant,
- retiring,
- scary,
- scrupling,
- scrupulous,
- self-deprecating,
- self-depreciating,
- self-depreciative,
- self-distrustful,
- self-doubting,
- self-effacing,
- shaky,
- shilly-shallying,
- shivery,
- shrinking,
- shy,
- skittery,
- skittish,
- squeamish,
- startlish,
- sticking,
- stickling,
- straining,
- tentative,
- timid,
- timorous,
- trembling,
- tremulous,
- trepidant,
- trigger-happy,
- unassertive,
- unassured,
- unselfconfident,
- unselfreliant