Unassertive

Unassertive describes a person's behavior or personality, indicating a lack of confidence or boldness in expressing opinions, desires, or needs. It signifies a tendency to be passive, submissive, and hesitant to take initiative or stand up for oneself. An unassertive individual may avoid confrontation and prioritize the needs of others, sometimes to their own detriment. This characteristic often stems from low self-esteem, fear of disapproval, or a learned behavior pattern. They may struggle with direct communication and tend to defer to the views of others.

Unassertive meaning with examples

• Maria's unassertive nature made it difficult for her to speak up in meetings, even when she had valuable contributions to offer the team.
• The employee was consistently unassertive and allowed others to take credit for his work, which ultimately hampered his career progression.
• Despite knowing he deserved a raise, his unassertive demeanor prevented him from negotiating with his manager for better compensation.
• Being unassertive in social situations often led to awkwardness, as he would agree to things he didn't want to do just to avoid conflict.
• Her unassertive response to the rude customer left the other employees feeling frustrated, as they felt she didn't defend her boundaries well.