self-effacing

adjective
UK: /ˌself.ɪˈfeɪ.sɪŋ/
US: /ˌself.ɪˈfeɪ.sɪŋ/

  1. Not wanting to attract attention to yourself or your achievements.

    1. He was a very self-effacing man.
    2. The self-effacing artist preferred to let his paintings speak for themselves, avoiding interviews.

  2. Modest and shy, often downplaying one's own abilities or accomplishments.

    1. She is a self-effacing team member.
    2. Despite her numerous awards, the professor remained a self-effacing and approachable figure.

Synonyms

humble unassuming shy retiring modest

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "self-effacing" in English means: Not wanting to attract attention to yourself or your achievements., Modest and shy, often downplaying one's own abilities or accomplishments..

The phonetic transcription of "self-effacing" is /ˌself.ɪˈfeɪ.sɪŋ/ in British English and /ˌself.ɪˈfeɪ.sɪŋ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "self-effacing": humble, unassuming, shy, retiring, modest.

Example usage of "self-effacing": "He was a very self-effacing man.". More examples on the page.