diffident

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.

In “One of Us,” Elizabeth Day’s shrewd novel of political ambition and personal retribution, the unlikely avenger is a diffident British art historian.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

But the overarching tone, across the board, is oddly diffident.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2025

But, he was naturally diffident - which worked in his favour when he auditioned to play Dr James Kildare, a medical intern struggling to learn his profession, in NBC's new primetime medical drama.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2025

The one place he prefers not to speak is in his classroom, to his diffident students.

From New York Times • Mar. 16, 2023

He was a slight man of about thirty-two with tan hair and brown diffident eyes.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller