self-conscious

adjective

self-con·​scious ˌself-ˈkän(t)-shəs 

1

a

: conscious of one's own acts or states as belonging to or originating in oneself : aware of oneself as an individual

b

: intensely aware of oneself : conscious

a rising and self-conscious social class

also : produced or done with such awareness

self-conscious art

2

: uncomfortably conscious of oneself as an object of the observation of others : ill at ease

self-consciously adverb

self-consciousness noun

Examples of self-conscious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lacking the self-conscious grimness of Arrow that initially kept it away from four-color adventures, The Flash was immediately liberated to go full comic book, kickstarting the small-screen answer to the MCU. —Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024

As people have become self-conscious of their digital image, video studio designers, MCs, virtual background designers, and even plastic surgeons have found thriving new avenues for their businesses. —thehustle.co, 1 Nov. 2024

Berger made a cacophonous, confusing mess of the anti-war classic All Quiet on the Western Front back in 2022, and mistook its profound statements about the toll of conflict as an excuse for self-conscious seriousness drenched in bloody sturm-und-drang spectacle. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024

Initially, Greenlee was self-conscious about her scars, even bandaging her face before venturing out to watch Hopkins play. —Nasha Smith, People.com, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

self-conscious

adjective

self-con·​scious

ˈself-ˈkän-chəs

: uncomfortably conscious of oneself as an object of the observation of others

self-consciously adverb

self-consciousness noun