Definition of MODEST

Choose the Right Synonym for modest

shy, bashful, diffident, modest, coy mean not inclined to be forward. shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others. shy with strangers bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence. a bashful boy out on his first date diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking. felt diffident about raising an objection modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit. modest about her success coy implies a pretended shyness. put off by her coy manner

chaste, pure, modest, decent mean free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious. 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 pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions. the pure of heart 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

Modest: Ever So Humble

When used to modify a sum or amount, or to mean "unpretentious," modest conveys a sense of not being excessive:

Captives received a modest salary of $0.80 per day, working at farms around Sonoma County picking apples, prunes, hops and other crops.
Janet Balicki, The Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat, 8 Dec. 2016

The minister of foreign affairs drove up in a modest car and joined our conversation.
Michael Taussig, Vice, 22 June 2016

The adjective humble is often used this way too, as when one speaks of "one's humble abode." Both words can be used in a humorous way that might be seen as self-deprecating.

Like humble, modest adequately describe one who does not boast about one's achievements, thereby avoiding a different kind of excessiveness:

Louisa May Alcott was always modest about her gifts; whatever early dreams of genius she might have nourished had been knocked out of her years before her literary fame arrived.
Barbara L. Packer, The New York Times Book Review, 25 Oct. 1987

Soft-spoken and modest in conversation, Knoll would be accomplished enough with his visual-effects credits in movies alone.
Julie Hinds, The Detroit Free Press, 11 Dec. 2016

Examples of modest in a Sentence

The foundry work was grueling, but for a little longer Brierfield afforded these African Americans a way station of modest freedom and a residue of authentic independence that was fast disappearing for most rural blacks. —Douglas A. Blackmon, Slavery By Another Name, 2008 … these remnants he lacked the will to discard, depressed him, deepening the low fever of depression in which even as modest a task as removing a blue doorknob loomed like a mountain almost impossible to climb. —John Updike, Harper's, October 2004 You're the hero, so then you have to behave in a certain way—there is a prescription for it. You have to be modest, you have to be forbearing, you have to be deferential, you have to be understanding. —Philip Roth, American Pastoral, 1997 They own a modest home near the beach. She enjoyed modest success with her singing career. He earns a modest income. We live on a modest budget. New cars are now available at relatively modest prices. He has only a modest amount of knowledge on the subject. It is a book of only modest importance. She's very modest about her achievements. Don't be so modest. Your performance was wonderful! “I'm not a hero. I was just doing my job,” he said in his characteristically modest way.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kirakosyan says the second main character, Haji Ayvaz, has a more modest reputation and has been on a hajj to Mecca. — Allison Keyes, Smithsonian, "Illuminating the Shadowy Art of Armenian Puppet Theater," 13 July 2018 But even if your taste skews more modest, a Bo-ish neutral suit of your own will give you distinction in the sea of yawny black maillots and cutesy polka-dot bikinis. — Christine Whitney, WSJ, "The Best Alternatives to the Boring Black Swimsuit," 11 July 2018 Setting aside volatile food and energy prices, however, consumer prices probably rose a more modest 2.3 percent. — New York Times, "Moguls Rub Shoulders in Idaho, and China Releases Trade Numbers," 8 July 2018 But the Razorbacks should shoot for more modest goals this season. — Chris Johnson, SI.com, "First-Year Outlooks for the SEC's Six New Head Coaches in 2018," 6 July 2018 But the underlying design principles can be applied to projects across the development spectrum and in neighborhoods more modest than posh Jackson Square. — John King, SFChronicle.com, "Well-crafted Jackson Square condos rich in design inspiration," 2 July 2018 But sometimes the more modest projects in Detroit offer compelling stories, too. — John Gallagher, Detroit Free Press, "Eco Homes adds single-family homes in Detroit's Midtown," 29 June 2018 The pace was more steady in Lake County, which saw housing sales drop 3.9 percent year-over-year in May, while the median sales price increased a more modest 3.8 percent. — Karen Caffarini, Post-Tribune, "Homes sold, prices up solidly in Porter County," 29 June 2018 Though initially it had been reported that Chinese coal use increased by about three percent, Brookings contends that the increase was probably a more modest one percent. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "In China, coal rules cut sulfur emissions, but data manipulation is a concern," 25 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'modest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.