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as in humble
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness appealingly modest about her success in the fashion industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word modest distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of modest are chaste, decent, and pure. While all these words mean "free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious," modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.

preferred more modest swimsuits
decent people didn't go to such movies

When is it sensible to use chaste instead of modest?

While the synonyms chaste and modest are close in meaning, chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows.

they maintained chaste relations

How do pure and chaste relate to one another, in the sense of modest?

Pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.

the pure of heart

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of modest Chances of winning: 33 percent — and that’s a modest estimate. Charlie Mason, TVLine, 8 Dec. 2024 However, prices also spiked in non-U.S. steel markets over that period amid a global rise in demand, leaving only a modest impact from the tariffs, the study found. Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2024 No matter how modest your initial contributions are, saving regularly will compound your money over time. Set a regular savings goal based on your capacity. Nia Bowers, Detroit Free Press, 28 Nov. 2024 Any food with a modest amount of tryptophan followed by about 30 grams of carbs (a medium plate of spaghetti) will distract the rest of your amino acids long enough to induce that foggy-brain feeling. Nick Stockton, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for modest 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modest
Adjective
  • Their average winning margin in their seven home wins thus far is 4.7 points.
    Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Butter 215 mg Shrimp 125 mg Cheese 108 mg Beef 90 mg Chicken 88 mg Pork 80 mg Ice cream 47 mg The average U.S. man consumes around 348 milligrams of cholesterol per day, and the average U.S. woman consumes around 242 milligrams.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • BrewDog This two-level rooftop spot is a pure sports bar that is right on the Strip but not in a hotel.
    Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Of course, Snoop has jammed with everyone from Willie Nelson to the Gorillaz to the late Quincy Jones, but he’s never sounded so pure and contemplative.
    Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • In its third-quarter earnings report in October, Tesla reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 8%, which fell just shy of estimates.
    Lora Kolodny,Ari Levy, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Billy Wagner, who finished five votes shy of entering the Hall, also returns to the ballot this year.
    Scott Thompson, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Chapter 1: The Rise of Scribe Media Scribe Media started in 2014 as the humbler, niche-sounding Book in a Box.
    Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Foxx's work ethic can be traced back to her humble beginning in Avery County, North Carolina, in Appalachia.
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The company reports that the median user interaction lasts 60 seconds.
    Spencer Dorn, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Over the past century, the median new home build has more than doubled in size, from just over 1k sq. ft. to nearly 2.5k sq. ft.
    Zachary Crockett, thehustle.co, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Niki starts out in the ’50s with the artist wearing an immaculate white dress and a glistening tiara, striking delicate poses for a photographer that orders her around.
    Sarah Belmont, ARTnews.com, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The vibes are immaculate with sunken in outdoor booths overlooking Magic Kingdom and cozy heat lamps.
    Carly Caramanna, Parents, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But the film doesn’t glamorize Callas, and instead portrays her as sad and withdrawn.
    Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Think of how the finale opening dwells on Georgie never getting a handshake this season — Paul left her hanging twice with an extended, and then a withdrawn, hand!
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Tucci, a reassuring screen presence for more than three decades, is casually excellent as the iconoclastic Bellini, wisely downplaying his character’s physicality in favor of meek conviction.
    Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024
  • Instead, Amy Adams, whose performance as a meek nun in Doubt was her second Oscar nomination after Junebug, reaps that windfall and wins her Oscar nice and early in her career.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near modest

Cite this Entry

“Modest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modest. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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