self-conscious

adjective

self-con·​scious ˌself-ˈkän(t)-shəs How to pronounce self-conscious (audio)
1
a
: conscious of one's own acts or states as belonging to or originating in oneself : aware of oneself as an individual
b
: intensely aware of oneself : conscious
a rising and self-conscious social class
also : produced or done with such awareness
self-conscious art
2
: uncomfortably conscious of oneself as an object of the observation of others : ill at ease
self-consciously adverb
self-consciousness noun

Examples of self-conscious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Jake Gyllenhaal is the type of movie star who tends toward two speeds: leading man with haunted look and solid jaw, and wonderfully self-conscious eccentric. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024 Piglet, Winnie-the-Pooh franchise (1926–present) Sidekick to: Winnie-the-Pooh Piglet is timid, skittish, and self-conscious; Pooh is oblivious, adventurous, and rumbly-in-my-tumbly goofy. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 But as Cotillard finds her literal voice, these self-conscious details of process fall away, and the actor’s evocation of Carole’s mounting psychic pain turns immersive and entirely upsetting. Guy Lodge, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 Inside the ceremonies, the audiences are tough: self-conscious, nervous and, as the night unfolds and more of them lose, in a souring mood. Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 During an interview with Vogue in January 2023, the Black Widow actress said she was raised to not be self-conscious of her body. Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024 This discrepancy creates a dynamic where individuals feel uncomfortable or self-conscious about showing vulnerability, even though their romantic partners may view it positively. Mark Travers, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 His stylistic choices can be spot-on or self-conscious in their artifice, but his debut feature reveals a talent to watch. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 For Blum, this has meant a self-conscious climb into American middle-class hide-a-bed comfort. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-conscious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-conscious was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near self-conscious

Cite this Entry

“Self-conscious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-conscious. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

self-conscious

adjective
self-con·​scious
ˈself-ˈkän-chəs
: uncomfortably conscious of oneself as an object of the observation of others
self-consciously adverb
self-consciousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on self-conscious

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