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self-conscious Definition

self·-conscious (-kän′s̸həs)

adjective

    1. conscious or, esp., unduly conscious of oneself as an object of notice a self-conscious poet
    2. awkward or embarrassed in the presence of others; ill at ease
    3. indicating embarrassment a self-conscious cough
  2. Philos., Psychol. having or showing awareness of one's own existence, actions, etc.; conscious of oneself or one's ego

self-conscious Related Forms
self′·-con′sciously adverb self′·-con′sciousness noun
self-conscious Synonyms

self-conscious

modif.

unsure, diffident, uncertain, shy; see doubtful 2, humble 1.

self-conscious Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • slightly: Martina, ever so slightly self-conscious, intent on ignoring the cameras and the audience.
  • increasingly: Only progressive ideas and people were worthy of respect by an increasingly self-conscious and self-confident media class.
  • too: I suppose I think we have become a little bit too self-conscious about it.
  • extremely: Not only that, but Mary also felt extremely self-conscious about the unsightly appearance of her legs, which only added to her distress.
  • rather: Is s/he quite self confident, or is s/he rather self-conscious?
  • particularly: It gets ridiculous at times - like actively avoiding conversations with others when feeling particularly self-conscious.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: Analysis along such lines would be likely to make people more self-conscious.
  • feel: Sometimes even tho it might make you feel a bit self-conscious, let people pour blessing on you!

Modifies a noun

  • thought: An embarrassing remark or a self-conscious thought may do the trick.
  • attempt: Theoretical notes " represent self-conscious, controlled attempts to derive meaning from any one or several observation notes.
  • movement: The proletarian movement is the self-conscious, independent movement of the immense majority, in the interest of the immense majority ' .
  • way: Its propositions are not philosophical in any self-conscious way.
  • being: We can see how we might almost have expected Gödel's theorem to distinguish self-conscious beings from inanimate objects.
  • mind: That consciousness has primacy in this arrangement is explicit: " primacy is given to the self-conscious mind " [ TSIB 356 ] .

Used with adjective complement

  • feel: A couple said they felt self-conscious looking at their own image.
  • become: Today as a growing youth gathers in his awareness of the world and becomes self-conscious, he longs for an identity.
  • get: Gravity has taken over and you get very self-conscious.
  • remain: These are not moments of abandonment - viewer and artist remain self-conscious in the act of experiencing.
  • make: The effect of using found sound is to make self-conscious the use of illustrative sound.

Preposition: in

  • front: When you watch it you can see that the actors aren't as relaxed, they're so self-conscious in front of the camera.
self-conscious Quotes

It is, I think, an indisputable fact that Americans are, as Americans, themost self-conscious people inthe world, and themost addictedtothebeliefthattheothernations of the earth are in a conspiracy to under value them.

—James, Henry

Every race which has become self-conscious and idea- bound in the past has perished.

—Lawrence, D(avid) H(erbert)