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.
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
With the film’s relative modesty, Jarmusch is tuning up—while also retuning the world of cinema, its critics and its viewers, to his own distinctive note and preparing them for his higher harmonics to come.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Putting modesty aside for a moment, what were your proudest achievements of year 2025?
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 15 Dec. 2025
Like Howard Hawks, John Ford, and other masters of the classical studio era, his style was often invisible, but his modesty cloaked the intense engagement of a true artist.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Dec. 2025
Nods to the hero that inspired it are sprinkled throughout, some are more obvious than others (like the conspicuous Iron Man helmet in the dining area – Stark was never known for his modesty).
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for modesty
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Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Putting modesty aside for a moment, what were your proudest achievements of year 2025?
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 15 Dec. 2025
Like Howard Hawks, John Ford, and other masters of the classical studio era, his style was often invisible, but his modesty cloaked the intense engagement of a true artist.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Dec. 2025
Nods to the hero that inspired it are sprinkled throughout, some are more obvious than others (like the conspicuous Iron Man helmet in the dining area – Stark was never known for his modesty).
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for modesty
Cite this Entry
“Modesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modesty. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
modesty
noun
mod·es·ty
ˈmäd-ə-stē
: the quality of being modest
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