Diffidence vs Reticence - What's the difference?
diffidence | reticence |
The state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement.
* 1857 , Brigham Young, Journal of Discources'', ''
* 1897 , '' (an excerpt from ''Sotileza )
(obsolete) Mistrust, distrust, lack of confidence in someone or something.
* 1591 , William Shakespeare, , act 3 scene 3
tight-lippedness, discretion, avoidance of saying too much
a silent and reserved nature
Diffidence is a synonym of reticence.
As nouns the difference between diffidence and reticence
is that diffidence is the state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement while reticence is tight-lippedness, discretion, avoidance of saying too much.diffidence
English
Noun
(-)- 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.
- "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.'
- [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.