self-deprecatingadj.
/ˌsɛlfˈdɛprᵻkeɪtɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌsɛlfˈdɛprəˌkeɪdɪŋ/ Involving or characterized by self-deprecation; disparaging of or modest about oneself, often humorously or out of false modesty; engaging in self-deprecation. Cf. self-depreciating adj.Now more common than self-depreciating: see note at that entry.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > [adjective] > underestimating or undervaluing > oneself
self-depreciating1725
self-deprecating1835
self-depreciatory1842
self-deprecatory1850
self-sabotaging1940
1835 Metrop. Mag. July 271 I bowed my head in a meek, self-deprecating manner, and said nothing.
1873 Aldine 6 112/2 Mrs. Venter..saw a spare man with a self-deprecating face sitting in a shining Brewster wagon, drawn by a heavy black horse.
1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 17 Jan. 30/1 Mr Amis, seen by himself in a way in which ironical, self-deprecating people do see themselves.
1971 S. Hill Strange Meeting ii. 111 Barton turned his head and smiled, and then his face changed again, the old, self-deprecating expression over it.
2016 Daily Mirror 18 Mar. 10/5 His self-deprecating humour was also evident in his catchphrase: ‘You'll like this..not a lot, but you'll like it.’
Derivatives
ˌself-ˈdeprecatingly adv.
ΚΠ
1879 M. M. Sanford Berrisford xxi. 229 ‘I am little less than a tiger in disposition,’ said Mr. Berrisford self-deprecatingly.
1924 W. Holtby Crowded Street xxxv. 259 She laughed self-deprecatingly.
2004 M. M. Lewis Scars of Soul i. ii. 49 I attempted to deflate the article's personalized tone by dividing it into three sections self-deprecatingly titled ‘pithy, navel-gazing insights’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1835