low self-esteem
3 antonyms for low self-esteem — opposites grouped by meaning.
Noun — A persistently poor opinion of your own worth and abilities, showing up as harsh self-criticism, expecting to fail, difficulty accepting praise and putting other people's needs first.
Antonyms
high self-esteem
self-confidence
self-assurance
How to use low self-esteem
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
suffer from low self-esteem
boost self-esteem
signs of low self-esteem
low self-esteem in teenagers
Everyday and clinical alike. In psychology it describes a trait, not a disorder, and it is treated as a symptom or risk factor rather than a diagnosis.
Etymology
Esteem comes via Old French estimer from Latin aestimare, to value or appraise, so self-esteem is literally the value you place on yourself.
Full origin of low self-esteem →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between low self-esteem and low self-confidence?
Self-esteem is how much you value yourself as a person overall. Self-confidence is how capable you feel at particular things. Someone can be a confident public speaker and still have low self-esteem, because the two operate at different levels.
What causes low self-esteem?
It usually builds from repeated experiences rather than a single event: harsh or neglectful parenting, bullying, academic or workplace failure, discrimination, abusive relationships, or living with a chronic illness or mental health condition. Temperament and depression can also make a person more prone to it.
Is low self-esteem a mental illness?
No. It is a trait that appears in many conditions, notably depression, anxiety and eating disorders, and it can raise the risk of developing them, but it is not itself a diagnosis in the DSM or ICD.
