unassertive

U1N1A1S1S1E1R1T1I1V4E1

adjective

Not assertive

Similar
nonassertivereticentself-effacingretiring
Opposite
assertive
OriginEnglish assertive ← Middle English un- ← Old English un- →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

adjectiveunassertive (comparative more unassertive, superlative most unassertive)

comparative more unassertive · superlative most unassertive

  1. Not assertive

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveinclined to timidity or lack of self-confidence

Similar
nonassertivereticentself-effacingretiring
Opposite
assertive
Also see
nonassertivereticentretiringself-effacingshy

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Germanic*un-
  4. Proto-West Germanic*un-
  5. Old Englishun-
  6. Middle Englishun-
  7. Englishun-
  8. Englishassertive
  9. Englishunassertive

From un- + assertive.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian неуверен, стеснителен
  • неуверен (neuveren)Translations
  • стеснителен (stesnitelen)Translations
Turkish iddiasız
  • iddiasızTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

unassertive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unassertive

MLA

“unassertive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unassertive. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unassertive,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unassertive.

Source: unassertive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.