as in diffident
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Recent Examples of self-critical
The comment comes as AWS prepares to publish what may be the most substantive piece of self-critical research to emerge from a major cloud provider this year.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 June 2026
Tolentino is at least self-critical.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Sensitive and self-critical at times, this zodiac sign is deeply aware of how others perceive them — qualities that mirror her portrayal of Cassie Howard.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
In another, a self-critical impulse takes hold, and what seemed good at first is suddenly embarrassing.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
And was obviously very talented and very intelligent to do so serious and self-critical work, which was really a breakthrough in this field.
—Mariel Carr, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
Unafraid to be self-critical, Fosse crafts a shockingly complex portrait of an artist whose perfectionism drives him to the brink.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Jan. 2026
Hurts was notably self-critical of his performance in that game.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Brown, intensely studious and both self-confident and self-critical, no longer looks like someone who is thinking through four different possibilities, trying to fit into the scheme, before acting on the field.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 June 2026
Tolentino is at least self-critical.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Sensitive and self-critical at times, this zodiac sign is deeply aware of how others perceive them — qualities that mirror her portrayal of Cassie Howard.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
In another, a self-critical impulse takes hold, and what seemed good at first is suddenly embarrassing.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
And was obviously very talented and very intelligent to do so serious and self-critical work, which was really a breakthrough in this field.
—Mariel Carr, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
Unafraid to be self-critical, Fosse crafts a shockingly complex portrait of an artist whose perfectionism drives him to the brink.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Jan. 2026
Hurts was notably self-critical of his performance in that game.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Brown, intensely studious and both self-confident and self-critical, no longer looks like someone who is thinking through four different possibilities, trying to fit into the scheme, before acting on the field.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-critical
Adjective
-
To strangers, Kay seemed demure, diffident, even shy, an impression her youthful appearance helped create.—
Charlotte Brooks,
Big Think,
13 Mar. 2026
-
This small, diffident moment is one more reason to mourn his death.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The result is a five-man starting lineup that, together, navigated ups and downs, expectations and adversity, to become the kind of egoless, cohesive force this Knicks franchise hadn’t seen in five decades.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
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That team featured players who cut, moved, shot, and hit the open man with an egoless ease.—
Michael Powell,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
In her early public appearances, she was often seen with her head bowed and her gaze upward, a posture that, alongside her soft-spoken demeanor, led the British press to characterize her as timid and reserved.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
-
David Fine as Scorpius does an enormous amount of heavy lifting by injecting urgency and pathos, despite his character’s timid personality.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Hockney came from humble beginnings.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
-
This humble abode is the product of a new Keller ISD program that encourages students to gain real-world skills before entering the working world.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
This film, so seemingly unassertive, apparently rambling and plotless, has a devastating impact and aftershock.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Accommodating, which is unassertive and cooperative, prioritizes the needs and preferences of others over one’s own in order to maintain harmony.—
Ellen Choi,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-critical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-critical. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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