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Difficulty vs Diffidence - What's the difference?

difficulty | diffidence |

As nouns the difference between difficulty and diffidence

is that difficulty is the state of being difficult, or hard to do while diffidence is the state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement.

difficulty

English

(wikipedia difficulty)

Noun

(difficulties)
  • The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
  • An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
    • We faced a difficulty .

    Derived terms

    * difficulty level * with difficulty

    Related terms

    * difficile * difficult

    External links

    * *

    diffidence

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • The state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement.
  • * 1857 , Brigham Young, Journal of Discources'', ''
    • I have the same diffidence in my feelings that most public speakers have, and am apt to think that others can speak better and more edifying than I can.
  • * 1897 , '' (an excerpt from ''Sotileza )
    • "I was passing by," he began to stammer, trembling with his diffidence , "I—happened to be passing along this way, and so—er—as I was passing this way, I says to myself, says I, 'I'll just stop into the shop a minute.'
  • (obsolete) Mistrust, distrust, lack of confidence in someone or something.
  • * 1591 , William Shakespeare, , act 3 scene 3
    • [Charles, King of France]: We have been guided by thee hitherto,
    And of thy cunning had no diffidence :
    One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.