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Diffident vs Assertive - What's the difference?

diffident | assertive |

As adjectives the difference between diffident and assertive

is that diffident is (archaic): lacking confidence in others; distrustful while assertive is boldly self-assured; confident without being aggressive.

diffident

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (archaic): Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.
  • Lacking confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve.
  • *
  • Having therefore—but hold, as we are diffident of our own abilities, let us here invite a superior power to our assistance.
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1960 , author= , title=(Jeeves in the Offing) , section=chapter VIII , passage=At an early point in these exchanges I had started to sidle to the door, and I now sidled through it, rather like a diffident crab on some sandy beach trying to avoid the attentions of a child with a spade.}}

    assertive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • boldly self-assured; confident without being aggressive
  • Derived terms

    * assertiveness