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

This fit with the royal tradition of being modest, but Princess Eugenie put her own spin on the gown with that slight off-the-shoulder fit and the jacquard print. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "Princess Eugenie Walked Down the Aisle in a Peter Pilotto Wedding Gown," 12 Oct. 2018 At 430 feet in length, the ship is comparatively modest in size—the better to navigate these more intimate ports—and carries just 184 passengers. — Corina Quinn, Condé Nast Traveler, "Ponant's Newest Cruise Ship Will Go Places You Never Even Dreamed of Going," 16 July 2018 At the same time, when the documentarians observe that everyone who ever met him fell in love with him, his response was modest. — Leah Garchik, SFChronicle.com, "Tab Hunter on his fame: ‘Big deal’," 11 July 2018 Saudi officials, meanwhile, spent Wednesday trying to sell to fellow OPEC members a more modest deal to increase by 500,000 barrels a day, according to people familiar with the matter. — Summer Said, WSJ, "OPEC, Russia Promise More Oil, but Can They Pump Enough?," 20 June 2018 Ladies must wear a hat with a minimum base of four inches (i.e. no fascinators) and dresses with a modest cut. — Steven Stolman, Town & Country, "What It's Really Like to Attend Royal Ascot," 20 June 2018 After its release, the film earned a modest $32,434,000 at the domestic box office, according to box office tracker Box Office Mojo, but has since become something of a classic childhood baseball film. — Nick Vadala, Philly.com, "'Sandlot' stars chat about movie ahead of Phillies game appearance," 8 June 2018 The major appeal is affordability, with the housing industry producing a range of prices from modest to high-end. — Anthony Alofsin, The Atlantic, "A Defense of the Suburbs," 6 June 2018 Yet, even a modest, two-minute delay in processing truck arrivals could cause a 17-mile line of traffic, says Mr. Christian. — Stephen Castle, New York Times, "Brexit Nightmare: 17-Mile Traffic Jams at the Dover Border," 3 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.