1
as in meekness
the absence of any feelings of being better than others
his natural modesty makes him reluctant to run for public office
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2
as in purity
the quality or state of being morally pure
in this day and age, that's very becoming modesty in a teenager
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Recent Examples of modesty
The Big Year captures Martin in kinder-gentler mode, but the film’s overall modesty keeps him from really registering.
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Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 Mar. 2024
Seen in that context, Chevron was one of the greatest statements of modesty in the history of U.S. law.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 2 July 2024
This is clearly a leader who sees the obligations of his office as clearly as its privileges: an attitude underpinned by a natural Nordic modesty and reserve.
—Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2024
Inspiration for spring 2025: The designer’s travel to Japan and the country’s philosophy of minimalism, restraint and balanced modesty, which does not simplify but rather emphasizes the sense of style.
—Sandra Salibian, WWD, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for modesty 
Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 Mar. 2024
Seen in that context, Chevron was one of the greatest statements of modesty in the history of U.S. law.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 2 July 2024
This is clearly a leader who sees the obligations of his office as clearly as its privileges: an attitude underpinned by a natural Nordic modesty and reserve.
—Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2024
Inspiration for spring 2025: The designer’s travel to Japan and the country’s philosophy of minimalism, restraint and balanced modesty, which does not simplify but rather emphasizes the sense of style.
—Sandra Salibian, WWD, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for modesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modesty
Noun
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Most disconcerting is the meekness of Washington’s supposedly stalwart European allies.Raphael Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2014
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But to see Bass as a kumbaya leader — or to mistake her softness for meekness — is to fundamentally misunderstand her.Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2024
Noun
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Doing this while online connected to another human might be construed as a form of cheating or a violation of purity and spirit of quietude.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
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Where Does Iran's Nuclear Program Currently Stand? Weapons-grade enrichment requires uranium purity levels above 90 percent.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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People who ooze humility don’t run for President, after all.Philip Elliott, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
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Sometimes stepping away from a toxic environment means embracing humility, relinquishing your impressive title, and starting over.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Monica Schipper/WireImage Jay-Z's lawyer doubled down on claims of his client's innocence on Monday, while disputing the timeline behind a rape accusation that has been leveraged against the music industry titan.Stephanie Maurice, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2024
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Cuellar, who won reelection in November despite the federal indictment against him, maintains his innocence.David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near modesty
Cite this Entry
“Modesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modesty. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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