Meanings
plural self-doubts
- countableuncountableThe doubting of one's own abilities.
None of the three feel they have encountered any resistance from colleagues in pursuing their chosen industry paths, although Rachel recalls how self-doubt initially hindered her progress.
2022 April 6, Tom Allett, “I wouldn't want to work anywhere else”, in RAIL, number 954, page 431 more example
Yet in spite of these yearnings for a fallen leader, in spite of some bitterness, in spite of apprehensions, I knew it was imperative that I grasp the reins of power and do so without delay. Any hesitation or wavering, any false step, any sign of self-doubt, could have been disastrous. The nation was in a state of shock and grief. The times cried out for leadership.
1971, Lyndon Johnson, “"I feel like I have already been here a year"”, in The Vantage Point, Holt, Reinhart & Winston, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 18
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*swé?
- Proto-Indo-European*selbʰ-
- Proto-Germanic*selbaz
- Old Englishself
- Old Englishself-
- Middle Englishself-
- Englishself-
- Latindubō
- Latindubitō
- Old Frenchdoter
- Middle Englishdouten
- Old Frenchdoter
- Old Frenchdoute
- Middle Englishdoute
- Englishdubiousinflu.
- Latindubitōinflu.
- Englishdoubt
- Englishself-doubt
Translations
German Selbstzweifel
- Selbstzweifeldoubting of one's own abilities
Greek αυτοαμφισβήτηση
- αυτοαμφισβήτηση (aftoamfisvítisi)doubting of one's own abilities
Cite this entry
self-doubt. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/self-doubt
“self-doubt.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/self-doubt. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “self-doubt,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/self-doubt.
Source: self-doubt on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.