modesty
noun
mod·es·ty
ˈmä-də-stē 
1
: the quality of not being too proud or confident about yourself or your abilities
She accepted the award with modesty.
2
: propriety in dress, speech, or conduct
The young man was known for his modesty.
Synonyms
Examples of modesty in a Sentence
She accepted the award with modesty.
He is known for his modesty, an uncommon characteristic for a politician.
There was no false modesty in her victory speech.
the modesty of her clothing
Recent Examples on the Web
Petridis also served as ghostwriter on that 2019 publication, titled without false modesty, Me.
—
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2024
They were considered so inferior to regular housing that, to emphasize the modesty of Jesus’s birth, some priests around this time said that Jesus was born not in a manger but in a penthouse.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2024
In an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, the conservative majority has now officially ripped away that veil of modesty and replaced it with direct supervisory power.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 2 July 2024
But ultimately, the best way for Washington to make the right call is less about bureaucratic reforms and more about exercising basic modesty.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for modesty 
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2024
They were considered so inferior to regular housing that, to emphasize the modesty of Jesus’s birth, some priests around this time said that Jesus was born not in a manger but in a penthouse.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2024
In an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, the conservative majority has now officially ripped away that veil of modesty and replaced it with direct supervisory power.
—Noah Feldman, The Mercury News, 2 July 2024
But ultimately, the best way for Washington to make the right call is less about bureaucratic reforms and more about exercising basic modesty.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for modesty
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'modesty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near modesty
Cite this Entry
“Modesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modesty. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
modesty
noun
mod·es·ty
ˈmäd-ə-stē
: the quality of being modest
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