diffidently

adverb

Definition of diffidentlynext
as in shyly

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diffidently
  1. shyly
  2. bashfully
  3. timidly
  4. fearfully
  5. politely
Adverb
  • At one moment, the young prince glances down with his doe eyes before looking shyly off to the side at his mom and breaking out into a giggle.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Burke entered the packed courtroom with shackles around his waist and, for a brief moment, seemed to smile shyly at the room.
    — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026
Definition of shyly
Adverb
  • The famously-outgoing point guard ducked her head bashfully as Huskies stars Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong shook her shoulders in celebration while freshman Kelis Fisher tossed a handful of confetti into her face.
    — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
  • So Rizo, a little bashfully but mostly just with determination, heads right on back.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Definition of bashfully
Adverb
  • By acting too timidly around its allies, Washington has missed opportunities.
    — Dafna H. Rand, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The other photo shows two of the cubs huddled in a corner of a habitat, with one eyeing the camera timidly.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
Definition of timidly
Adverb
  • The child is fearfully looking behind him, as three Israeli soldiers approach.
    — Mirin Fader, New York Times, 16 July 2026
  • He’s flanked by his wife, Princess Deidamia, who looks fearfully up at her husband’s encroaching enemies.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 6 July 2026
Definition of fearfully
Adverb
  • Though there have been tensions between Camilla and her stepson Harry over the years, royal biographer Tom Bower reported that the queen politely offered the Duke of Sussex a cup of tea.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Clocking in at 30 minutes, Williams’ Quartet La Jolla is a five-part work that politely utilizes dissonance and sometimes abstract rhythms.
    — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of politely
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

diffident
diffidently
diffuse
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Cite this Entry

“Diffidently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diffidently. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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