self-esteem
4 synonyms and 3 antonyms for self-esteem, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Your overall sense of your own worth and value as a person.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
self-worth
self-regard
self-respect
Antonyms
How to use self-esteem
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
low self-esteem
boost self-esteem
healthy self-esteem
a blow to her self-esteem
Neutral; standard in psychology, education and everyday speech alike.
Etymology
From self plus esteem, which comes through Old French from Latin aestimare 'to value, to appraise'.
Full origin of self-esteem →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence?
Self-esteem is about worth: whether you believe you are a good and valuable person. Self-confidence is about ability: whether you believe you can do a particular thing. Someone can be a confident surgeon and still have low self-esteem, and the reverse is just as common.
What are the signs of low self-esteem?
Common signs include harsh self-criticism, difficulty accepting compliments, apologising constantly, avoiding challenges for fear of failing, and tolerating poor treatment from others because you feel you deserve no better. Persistent low self-esteem is closely linked with depression and anxiety and is worth raising with a doctor.
Is high self-esteem always good?
Not automatically. Research distinguishes secure self-esteem, which is stable and does not depend on beating others, from fragile or inflated self-esteem, which needs constant validation and can turn defensive or aggressive when challenged.
