WordGarden.ioinsecureness
Pronunciation
UK
US
Meanings
Noun
a feeling of self-doubt, anxiety, or lack of confidence
a condition of being unsafe, unstable, or not well protected
Beyond the definition
This word refers to a state of not feeling confident or safe in yourself. It describes the kind of doubt that makes someone worry about their value, fear failure, or care too much about what other people think. In a story, a person showing insecureness may keep asking for reassurance, compare themselves with others, or avoid difficult situations because they expect to do badly. The meaning is clear, but in modern English, people usually say "insecurity" instead of "insecureness."
Insecureness is the state of feeling unsure, unsteady, or not confident in yourself. It can describe emotional uncertainty, fear about your own worth, or a weak sense of safety and trust. A person experiencing insecureness may doubt their abilities, worry too much about how others see them, or expect rejection and failure even when there is little reason to.
The word can be used in personal, social, or emotional contexts. For example, someone may feel insecureness in a friendship, in their appearance, at work, or in a new situation where they do not yet feel capable. In stories, this often appears in characters who hide their feelings, seek constant approval, or pull back from challenges because they are afraid of being judged.
The meaning is very close to "insecurity," which is the far more common and natural noun in present-day English. "Insecureness" is understandable, but it is uncommon and may sound awkward to many native speakers. Because of that, learners should recognize it, but in most real-world writing and speech, "insecurity" is usually the better choice.
When you do see "insecureness," it usually points to the same basic idea: a lack of confidence, a feeling of uncertainty, or emotional weakness. It makes sense as a word, but it is rare. If the goal is natural modern English, "insecurity" is almost always preferred.
Examples
- 1
Self-doubt
His insecureness showed in the way he apologized before giving any opinion.
- 2
Voice tone
There was a slight insecureness in her voice during the interview.
- Patternin someone's voice
heard in the way someone speaks
- 3
Characterization
The novel gives the main character a quiet insecureness that makes him feel real.
- Usage
insecurity is much more common in everyday English than insecureness
See also
Similar
- insecurity
- self-doubt
- uncertainty
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- confidence
- self-assurance
Used with (collocations)
- feelings of insecureness
- a sense of insecureness
Word family
Explore
- low self-esteem
- impostor syndrome
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- insecurenessnoun