diffident
- Modest or shy due to a lack of self-confidence, especially in social situations.
In a sentence
- Despite her obvious talent, she remained diffident about sharing her paintings with the public.
- The diffident young man barely spoke during the entire job interview.
Usage note. Do not confuse diffident with indifferent; diffident means lacking self-confidence, while indifferent means not caring—they have entirely different roots and meanings.
Where it comes from
English diffident · entered English 15th c.
From Latin diffidere ('to distrust'), composed of dis- ('away') and fidere ('to trust'); it originally conveyed distrust of oneself. It entered English in the 15th century, and by the 18th century its sense had settled on modest self-doubt rather than distrust of others.