15 Synonyms for “Low Self-Esteem”

Are you wondering what to call a person with low self-esteem?

Perhaps you’re concerned that “low self-esteem” itself is offensive or overused.

Whatever the case, this article is here to help you out!

After all, we’ll teach you how to say “low self-esteem” in different situations to mix things up.

Other Ways to Say “Low Self-Esteem”

  • Insecurity
  • Self-doubt
  • Lack of self-confidence
  • Self-worth issues
  • Poor self-image
  • Self-deprecation
  • Inferiority complex
  • Self-neglect
  • Self-loathing
  • Negative self-perception
  • Low self-regard
  • Self-criticism
  • Depreciating self-value
  • Self-derogation
  • Diminished self-respect

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • “Low self-esteem” is correct to use when someone doesn’t find much value in themselves.
  • You can use “insecurity” as a well-rounded, formal synonym to help you mix things up.
  • “Self-doubt” works well as a more informal option when talking about someone who doesn’t believe in themselves.

You should keep reading to learn what to say instead of “low self-esteem.” We’ve explored more regarding the best formal and informal alternatives to help you here.

Also, you can read the final section to learn if it’s okay to say “low self-esteem.” Then, you’ll know whether it’s something you should include in your writing in the first place.

Insecurity (Formal)

We recommend starting with “insecurity” as a formal way to say “low self-esteem.”

Generally, this is a bit more of a positive synonym. Of course, there’s no positive way to say you have low self-esteem, but it’s as close as you can get!

After all, it’s well-rounded and versatile. Since it’s only one word, you can use it when talking about someone who might need a little boost because they have little value in themselves.

You can use it in an essay. It could be a good chance for you to talk about your insecurities and what you believe gets you down.

Overall, it’s quite a clear choice for a more professional term. People understand what it means without you having to go into further detail.

Feel free to review these examples to learn a bit more about it:

I have a lot of insecurity to work through if I’m going to get a job like that. But I’m determined to make it my life goal.

My insecurity often gets me down. However, I’ll do what I can to ensure that doesn’t continue to happen.

Self-Doubt (Informal)

You can write “self-doubt” as another way to say “low self-esteem” in some cases.

It’s a more informal option that shows you (or someone else) don’t value yourself much.

So, you can use it when sounding honest and sincere. It shows that you doubt a lot of the things you do because you don’t believe they’re worth exploring.

For the most part, this is a great way to have the reader be more empathetic with you.

So, it might be worth including this when writing a novel. It could allow you to explore a character who doubts themselves a lot and needs to improve their mental health.

You can also review these examples to learn a bit more about it:

She is always wrapped up in self-doubt. Everyone tries to help her, but this is something she needs to do alone.

I’ve always had self-doubt on my mind. I can’t help it, and I’m trying my best to remove it from the equation.

Is It Okay to Say “Low Self-Esteem”?

It is okay to say “low self-esteem.”

It’s not an insulting phrase to use. It’s simply a way to describe someone who doesn’t value themselves much and doesn’t know what they bring to the world around them.

You can review the following example to learn a bit more about how it works:

She has low self-esteem. She always has, and I wish there was something we could all do to help her.

You can use it when describing yourself or others.

Generally, it’s more appropriate to use it when describing yourself. After all, you will know if you have low self-esteem, as you’ll often struggle to see your worth.

When using it to describe others, you could run into a problem!

It can come across as a bit of an insult if you’re not careful. So, try to minimize how often you use it when describing people you deem to have “low self-esteem.”

Now, you should bookmark this page to remind yourself of the best words to replace “low self-esteem.” Then, you can return here whenever you need something fresh to mix things up.