as in damn
the smallest amount or part imaginable
only a modicum of skill is necessary to put the kit together
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Recent Examples of modicum
Maybe living in the heart of the imperialist beast could afford a modicum of protection and safety through proximity to whiteness.
—
Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Congress sought to ensure some modicum of fairness for the powerful new tools of radio and TV broadcasting.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
The bittersweet musical numbers lend all the characters — even the comic-relief ones — some modicum of humanity, and Latif’s playful visual style enhances the ironic elements of the tale.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Sensing there are stretches that require at least a modicum of steering, Brettkelly gets one or two of the older guys to do somewhat jarring off-camera narration/summation, in which the speaker is identified in subtitles in some instances and not others.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modicum
Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Congress sought to ensure some modicum of fairness for the powerful new tools of radio and TV broadcasting.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
The bittersweet musical numbers lend all the characters — even the comic-relief ones — some modicum of humanity, and Latif’s playful visual style enhances the ironic elements of the tale.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Sensing there are stretches that require at least a modicum of steering, Brettkelly gets one or two of the older guys to do somewhat jarring off-camera narration/summation, in which the speaker is identified in subtitles in some instances and not others.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modicum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modicum
Noun
-
What is emerging instead is a stewardship model that treats vital ecosystems, like coral reefs, as dynamic systems requiring maintenance, repair, and adaptation, much like roads, damns, and power grids.—
Bill Frist,
Forbes.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
My parents have no idea what’s happening because legacy media is not reporting on anything worth a damn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Moreover, Trump cares not a whit about bringing drug traffickers to justice.—
Peter Kornbluh,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Miss Keaton…is not a whit like the flustered ingénue she was cast to play.—
Chris Morris,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Bruins didn’t play a lick of defense in their only home loss of the season – a 98-97 overtime defeat against Indiana.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
There is not a lick of exaggeration in that statement.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the harsh afternoon sun, it was deserted except for dogs dozing on the rocks, and lovers seeking a shred of privacy.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Anyone with a shred of empathy would have a hard time understanding why a person would ever do this.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Theroux is a hoot as the cult fixer with a past, thoroughly having a blast as this mysterious guy whose shaky history is about to catch up with him.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Say those owls are like four, five hundred yards away, and your owl hoot makes those owls take off or start hooting.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Modicum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modicum. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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