self-effacing

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 the pilot, she is insecure and self-effacing; when a car almost runs her over, she apologizes to the driver.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2025

In his obituary for Gehry, Christopher Hawthorne described the studio as a “spare, even self-effacing stucco box, plain outside and filled with light and surprising spatial complexity inside.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

Is it possible that today we are seeing a decisive erosion in popular tolerance of Biya's self-effacing version of semi-authoritarian rule?

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2025

Vaill also takes exception to the characterization of Eliza as self-effacing.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2025

Having worked in intelligence himself, he marveled at the thought of this “wispy, gentle, self-effacing woman knocking off, one by one, some of the nastiest pieces of business then existing.”

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield