Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

self-effacing

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.28 in modern English

Syllables: self---ef-fac-ing
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

6

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Shy, extremely humble and modest; making oneself seem unnoticeable.

Example Sentences

"Clark Kent's self-effacing behavior is to purposefully make people ignore him."
"[…] When asked about this, Muldoon's self-effacing response is: “I don't think so!”"
"His personality was also extremely endearing, his interviews were very self-effacing (and), he came over as gentle and was generous in his praise of others."
"I'm sorry if I seem self-effacing / Consumed by selfish thoughts / It's only that I still love you deeply / It's all the love I got"

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swé? Proto-Indo-European *selbʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *selbaz Old English self Old English self- Middle English self- English self- English effacing English self-effacing From self- + effacing.

Inflected Forms

more self-effacing (comparative) most self-effacing (superlative)

Phrases

self-effacingly self-effacingness

Synonyms

reticent retiring

Questions

What does self-effacing mean?: Shy, extremely humble and modest; making oneself seem unnoticeable.
Where does self-effacing come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swé? Proto-Indo-European *selbʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *selbaz Old English self Old English self- Middle English self- English self- English effacing English self-effacing From self- + effacing.

How to pronounce self-effacing

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