Standard Lemma guide

diffidently

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˈdɪf.ɪ.dənt.li/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a diffident manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • `Oh, well,' he shrugged diffidently, `I like the work.'

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English diffident Middle English -ly English -ly English diffidently From diffident + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: epävarmasti — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • French: timidement — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • French: en hésitant — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • French: humblement — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • French: modestement — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • German: schüchtern — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • German: zaghaft — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • Russian: засте́нчиво (zasténčivo) — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • Russian: ро́бко (róbko) — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • Russian: неуверенно (neuverenno) — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • Russian: недоверчиво (nedoverčivo) — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • Russian: скры́тно (skrýtno) — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • Spanish: con timidez — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself
  • Spanish: con humildad — in a diffident manner; without confidence in oneself