SELF-DEPRECATORY Synonyms: 135 Similar and Opposite Words

self-deprecatory

adjective

Definition of self-deprecatory

as in self-deprecating

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of self-deprecatory But my favorite joke was the self-deprecatory one. — Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 15 May 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-deprecatory

Adjective

Though the musical material doesn’t fully showcase Benanti’s Broadway talent and the solo work feels underdeveloped, her sharp, self-deprecating performance wins the audience over.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Playing an acoustic guitar, Martin delivered a surprise number that was both self-deprecating and deferential to two great Australians, the late cricketing great Shane Warne and Farnham.

— Lars Brandle, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of self-deprecating

Adjective

Recipe development can be a self-effacing task, obliging the writer to anticipate the appetites and routines of her imagined reader.

— Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
In those interviews, the brothers are charmingly self-effacing and humble, a far cry from the braggadocious, aggressive posturing that defined their early celebrity.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of self-effacing

Adjective

Mogwai, who would make their debut the year after Beat was released and with whom Bowery Electric would share a bill, would crouch in similarly unassuming and tense postures and use them to spring out and scare the bejeezus out of people.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
An unassuming warehouse in south Kansas City that attracted widespread outrage earlier this year over reported plans to turn it into an immigration detention center will instead be used for infrastructure storage.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of unassuming

Adjective

Its inclusion in the corridors of power is characteristic of the 52-year-old executive, whom colleagues describe as committed, charismatic and down-to-earth.

— Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
That tracks here, but with a more down-to-earth take on glamour.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of down-to-earth

Adjective

While the house is bursting with artwork that would make most museum curators envious, Herman’s home is surprisingly humble, built on a tight budget from prosaic materials.

— Marissa Gluck, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
In the ultimate model-off-duty moment, Gigi Hadid was seen wearing a humble zig-zag headband—the quintessential late-'90s and early-2000s hair accessory.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of humble

Adjective

The visitors were meek and the poorest performers of the four opponents, but how much of that is down to the way Leeds played?

— Beren Cross, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Moore plays Mona Friedman, a meek housewife who hasn’t sung in front of anyone since church choir and is unexpectedly cast in a community-theater production — then transforms into a zealous method actor willing to wage war over a marginal role.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of meek

Adjective

In an unusually deferential gesture for this bad-boy artist, Gagosian’s checklist states that Wolfson used the photo with the permission of the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Throughout his opinion, Carter repeatedly described the deferential standard of review judges are obligated to follow under the Federal Arbitration Act.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of deferential

Adjective

Romo was arrested in July on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Wisconsin, a moment that stained his image as the aw-shucks, clean-cut football star who has become one of the best on-air personalities in the game.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Ted himself would never say so, of course — he’d aw-shucks the notion via some convoluted reference to a beloved ’80s movie.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of aw-shucks

Browse Nearby Words

self-deprecatingly

self-deprecatory

self-despair

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“Self-deprecatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-deprecatory. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of self-deprecatory

adjective

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