Lacking confidence in one's own ability or worth; shy and hesitant to speak or act. Characterized by modest self-doubt rather than bold assertion.
From Latin 'diffidere' meaning 'to mistrust,' composed of 'dis-' (away) and 'fidere' (to trust). The word evolved from meaning 'mistrustful of others' to describing someone who lacks trust in their own capabilities.
A diffident person has 'difficult confidence'—they find it difficult to be confident! Unlike arrogant people who overestimate themselves, diffident people underestimate their own worth.
Same historical pattern as 'diffidence': female diffidence was incentivized as social virtue, creating gendered performance expectations around confidence and self-assertion.
Apply 'diffident' descriptively without assuming correlation to gender; describe the behavior, not the person's gendered identity.
["uncertain","cautious","reserved","hesitant"]
Women overcoming enforced diffidence—particularly in STEM, leadership, and intellectual domains—was central to professional inclusion.
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