self-effacement
/'selfi'feismənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
A person practices self-effacement by quietly reading in a corner of the library.
Definition
- Noun:
- The act or quality of keeping oneself in the background; making oneself inconspicuous: It refers to the practice of avoiding drawing attention to oneself, often out of modesty or humility.
- The quality of being modest and not trying to get praise or attention: It describes a personality trait of downplaying one's own importance or achievements.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Her self-effacement made her a beloved but often overlooked member of the team.
- He accepted the award with characteristic self-effacement, crediting his colleagues instead.
- In many cultures, self-effacement is considered a virtue.
Advanced Usage
- "a posture of self-effacement": A deliberate attitude or stance of humility.
- Despite his expertise, he maintained a posture of self-effacement during the discussion.
- "with typical self-effacement": In a manner that is usual or expected for someone who is modest.
- With typical self-effacement, she dismissed her crucial role in the project's success.
Variants and Related Words
- Self-effacing (adj): Not drawing attention to oneself; modest.
- He is a self-effacing leader who shuns the spotlight.
- Efface (verb): To erase or make indistinct. (Note: This is the root verb, but "self-effacement" specifically refers to the act directed at oneself.)
- Time had begun to efface the inscription on the old tombstone.
Synonyms
- Modesty: The quality of being unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities.
- Humility: A modest view of one's own importance.
- Retiringness: The quality of being shy and fond of being alone.
- Unobtrusiveness: The quality of not being noticeable or attracting attention.
Antonyms
- Egotism: The practice of talking and thinking about oneself excessively.
- Arrogance: Having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance.
- Showiness: The quality of attracting attention by being flashy or ostentatious.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "To shrink into the background": To make oneself less noticeable. (This phrase is a close conceptual parallel to the meaning of self-effacement.)
- Whenever there was an argument, he would shrink into the background.
- "To hide one's light under a bushel": To conceal one's talents or abilities. (This idiom relates to the concept of excessive self-effacement.)
- Don't hide your light under a bushel; your ideas are valuable.
A person practices self-effacement by quietly reading in a corner of the library.
Noun
- withdrawing into the background; making yourself inconspicuous