as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
he's dating a sweet, self-effacing girl
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Recent Examples of self-effacing
On the trail, this involves a delicate pairing of self-effacing anecdote and grand proclamation.
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Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Our self-effacing narrator is Victor (Mouret regular Vincent Macaigne), the schlubby, doting husband of high-school English teacher Joan (India Hair), who is beginning to feel stifled by his unwavering devotion.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024
Where once drunkenness for the sake of drunkenness among women was framed as unladylike (and therefore to do so could be seen as a feminist statement), our attitudes to drinking have taken on a far more self-effacing, joking tone.
—Sadhbh O'Sullivan, refinery29.com, 12 Oct. 2019
Such inconsistencies are papered over with enthusiastic praise of what Mordaunt believes to be the eternally courageous, generous, resourceful, and self-effacing virtues of the British people.
—Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for self-effacing 
Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Our self-effacing narrator is Victor (Mouret regular Vincent Macaigne), the schlubby, doting husband of high-school English teacher Joan (India Hair), who is beginning to feel stifled by his unwavering devotion.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024
Where once drunkenness for the sake of drunkenness among women was framed as unladylike (and therefore to do so could be seen as a feminist statement), our attitudes to drinking have taken on a far more self-effacing, joking tone.
—Sadhbh O'Sullivan, refinery29.com, 12 Oct. 2019
Such inconsistencies are papered over with enthusiastic praise of what Mordaunt believes to be the eternally courageous, generous, resourceful, and self-effacing virtues of the British people.
—Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for self-effacing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-effacing
Adjective
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When Marnie Was There A subtle, rewarding story about adolescence and identity based on a 1967 novel of the same name by British author Joan G. Robinson, When Marnie Was There follows Anna, a shy and withdrawn girl who struggles to connect to anyone.Matt Kamen, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023
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Mara, though initially more withdrawn, eventually gives in to his charms, even though Matt isn’t exactly a typical leading man.Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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The homes in the supertall are available in full-floor and duplex configurations, measuring just shy of 4,000 square feet to over 7,000 square feet.Jessica Cherner, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024
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The New York Mets were two wins shy of reaching the 2024 World Series largely because of how well their starting rotation performed down the stretch.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Of the three all-time men’s players who’ve dominated this era of the game—Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic—Nadal seemed to be the most bashful of the three.Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024
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The spring’s boyfriend blush trend drags the pigment far beyond the usual target zone and focuses on rich layers to emulate a bashful expression.Akili King, Essence, 19 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Self-effacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-effacing. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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