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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
diffidence
    n 1: lack of self-confidence [syn: diffidence, self-doubt,
         self-distrust] [ant: confidence]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Diffidence \Dif"fi*dence\, n. [L. diffidentia.]
   1. The state of being diffident; distrust; want of
      confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of
      others. [Archaic]
      [1913 Webster]

            That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me
            down even to a diffidence of God's mercy. --Donne.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of
      self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness.
      [1913 Webster]

            It is good to speak on such questions with
            diffidence.                           --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

            An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness
            of address.                           --W. Irving.

   Syn: Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear;
        timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See Humility, and
        Bashfulness.
        [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for diffidence:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
Pyrrhonism, afraidness, apprehension, bashfulness, boggle, boggling, caution, cautiousness, compunction, demur, demurral, distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, doubtfulness, dubiety, dubiousness, falter, faltering, fearfulness, half-belief, hesitance, hesitancy, hesitating, hesitation, jumpiness, lack of self-confidence, lack of self-reliance, leeriness, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, modesty, objection, pause, protest, qualm, qualm of conscience, qualmishness, question, recoil, scruple, scrupulosity, scrupulousness, self-depreciation, self-detraction, self-distrust, self-doubt, self-effacement, shadow of doubt, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, shrinking, shrinkingness, shyness, skepticalness, skepticism, skittishness, stage fright, startlishness, stickling, suspicion, suspiciousness, tentativeness, timidity, timorousness, total skepticism, uncertainty, wariness, weak ego
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