as in self-deprecating
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Recent Examples of self-deprecatory
Prior to sharing his self-deprecatory costume, Vance marked the holiday with another one of his viral memes.
—
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
His TikTok alone is a treasure trove of hilarious videos, which range from self-deprecatory humor to him hopping on whatever viral trend is tickling his fancy.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Though it’s been less than two weeks since Conan O’Brien made his Oscars hosting debut, the famously self-deprecatory comedian is already discussing how things could’ve gone differently.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2025
But here, Astrov, given great self-deprecatory wit by William Jackson Harper, is more dimensional than usual, including, for once, an interest in trees that’s as painfully visceral as his interest in Elena.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
His TikTok alone is a treasure trove of hilarious videos, which range from self-deprecatory humor to him hopping on whatever viral trend is tickling his fancy.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Though it’s been less than two weeks since Conan O’Brien made his Oscars hosting debut, the famously self-deprecatory comedian is already discussing how things could’ve gone differently.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2025
But here, Astrov, given great self-deprecatory wit by William Jackson Harper, is more dimensional than usual, including, for once, an interest in trees that’s as painfully visceral as his interest in Elena.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-deprecatory
Adjective
-
O’Brien, known for his self-deprecating humor, emceed the Oscars this year and in 2025.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Schmidt will play Lori Gillespie, a strong-willed, self-deprecating attorney.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Call it another twist in the story of an accidental heartthrob turned self-effacing star — or simply the irony of teller and tale — but despite his discomfort with visibility, Arlaud has become one of the most outspoken left-wing voices in contemporary French cinema.—
Ben Croll,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
-
Lots of overnight successes grapple with fame on their follow-up album, and this subject matter intensifies Kahan’s already self-effacing lyricism.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
Pitchfork,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The unassuming beach town is also home to the longest-running jazz festival in Europe.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2026
-
Many hide their treasures behind unassuming wooden doors down narrow alleys, like Riad Dar Al Dall—This Time Tomorrow, or offer little or no signage indicating their presence.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Natural wood-grain texture gives this bed a down-to-earth aesthetic but still winks at New England vintage.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
13 May 2026
-
In person, Magyar gives every indication of being magnanimous and down-to-earth, smiling easily, thanking everyone profusely, and treating his son with what looks like authentic affection, even when the cameras aren’t rolling.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
My occupations have given me a happy, humble, quiet life, but always nagging in the back of my mind has been a case of impostor syndrome.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Gregory Lorenzi has spent the past 10 years at Brest, where his eye for a bargain helped to catapult the humble Breton club from mid-table mediocrity in Ligue 2 to a third-place finish in Ligue 1 and a fairytale Champions League campaign.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Gone was the meek servant child, replaced by a confident woman who remained composed during aggressive cross-examination.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
In Sylvie’s imagination, Nita becomes Anna, a sultry beauty with a cruel streak who has been dating the meek Christophe (Niney) while secretly engaging in an affair with their married boss, Pierre (Cassel).—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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One party controlling the government, with a popular president of that party, may have a Congress more deferential to the president than one of divided government.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
And so, when James Harden walked toward the Raptors’ bench during a timeout in the Cavaliers’ 125-120 win, the Raptors were no longer impressed or deferential.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That puts her in conflict with Elliott Emerson (Richard Thomas), a local realtor who rules the community organization with an aw-shucks demeanor that masks a cage fighter’s spirit.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
-
An aw-shucks countenance barely hiding a righteous anger that seeks to pile-drive progressive California into submission.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-deprecatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-deprecatory. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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