diffidently
Americanadverb
-
in a way that shows lack of confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness; timidly or shyly.
He saw her approaching rather diffidently, trying to summon up her courage, smiling an uncertain smile.
-
in a restrained or reserved way.
He got them to do the right thing not by scolding or nagging, but by calmly and diffidently laying out the logic of his position.
Other Word Forms
- nondiffidently adverb
- undiffidently adverb
Etymology
Origin of diffidently
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Well,” he began diffidently, “essentially I’m a writer.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025
Yes, we were responding to anonymous prompts, but we were looking, respectfully and diffidently, at a fellow human being.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2021
Manchester entered on its Victory in Europe rejoicings a little diffidently and the day was physically suited to the mood.
From The Guardian • May 6, 2020
Joel smiled diffidently and admitted, "The ball has been bouncing my way so far."
From Golf Digest • Apr. 16, 2020
He began a little diffidently, avoiding her gaze, but he gathered courage as he went along.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
