Antonyms for diffidence
Grammar : Noun |
Spell : dif-i-duh ns |
Phonetic Transcription : ˈdɪf ɪ dəns |
Definition of diffidence
Origin :- c.1400, from Latin diffidentia "mistrust, distrust, want of confidence," from diffidere "to mistrust, lack confidence," from dis- "away" (see dis-) + fidere "to trust" (see faith). Modern sense is of "distrusting oneself" (1650s). The original sense was the opposite of confidence.
- noun hesitancy; lack of confidence
- The youth sat down as directed, but reluctantly and with diffidence.
- Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
- At this point Wanhope hesitated with a kind of diffidence that was rather charming in him.
- Extract from : « Questionable Shapes » by William Dean Howells
- Mr. Cruncher, with some diffidence, explained himself as meaning "Old Nick's."
- Extract from : « A Tale of Two Cities » by Charles Dickens
- His manner betrayed a curious mixture of diffidence and assurance.
- Extract from : « The Avenger » by E. Phillips Oppenheim
- The diffidence of his tone proved startling to her by virtue of its unusualness.
- Extract from : « Mistress Wilding » by Rafael Sabatini
- My friends are in the habit of amusing themselves with my diffidence and my timidity.
- Extract from : « Tony Butler » by Charles James Lever
- With regard to all your diffidence of yourself, we laugh at it.
- Extract from : « Memoirs of the Courts and Cabinets of George the Third » by The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
- Lowly self-estimation is by no means a constant accompaniment of diffidence.
- Extract from : « Ernest Linwood » by Caroline Lee Hentz
- But John's priestly tutors had schooled him in diffidence, if in nothing else.
- Extract from : « Fort Amity » by Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
- When she spoke, it was with a touch of diffidence and hesitation in her voice.
- Extract from : « The New Girl at St. Chad's » by Angela Brazil
Synonyms for diffidence
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019