adjective

self-conscious

self-KON-shuhs

Self-conscious (adjective) means Uncomfortably aware of being watched or judged by others, and awkward or embarrassed as a result. Example: “He was self-conscious about his accent and spoke as little as possible.”

adjective

Uncomfortably aware of being watched or judged by others, and awkward or embarrassed as a result.

"He was self-conscious about his accent and spoke as little as possible."

"She felt self-conscious walking into the room late."

Done with deliberate awareness of the effect it will have; knowingly artful rather than natural.

"The film is a self-conscious homage to 1970s thrillers."

philosophy, psychology Having awareness of oneself as a distinct individual with an inner life.

"Debate continues over which animals are genuinely self-conscious."

How to Use Self-conscious

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFeeling awkward because you think people are looking at you.

When to use it

Neutral and everyday; the philosophical sense is confined to academic writing.

Memory tip

The thing you worry about follows about: self-conscious about her height.

Easily confused with

self-aware insecure → embarrassed →

Common pairings

self-conscious about feel self-conscious painfully self-conscious

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He was _____ about his accent and spoke as little as possible.

Synonyms

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awkward embarrassed ill at ease shy uncomfortable deliberate knowing studied calculated self-aware sentient

Antonyms

confident relaxed unselfconscious at ease unaffected artless

Related Words

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Rhymes for self-conscious

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between self-conscious and self-aware?

Self-conscious is about discomfort, meaning you are worried about how you look to others. Self-aware is a positive quality, meaning you understand your own motives and effect on people. One makes you shrink, the other makes you clearer-sighted.

Is self-conscious hyphenated?

Yes, self-conscious keeps its hyphen in all standard varieties of English, and so does the noun self-consciousness.

What is the difference between self-conscious and insecure?

Self-conscious usually describes a feeling in a particular moment or about one specific thing, such as your teeth or your voice. Insecure describes a deeper, more general lack of confidence that follows you around.

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