1
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
he was awarded a modest pension when he retired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pure
free from any trace of the coarse or indecent
tended to wear more modest swimsuits than the thong-clad guests at the resort
Synonyms & Similar Words
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3
as in shy
not comfortable around people
a modest winner who said a quick thank-you and promptly left the stage
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4
as in humble
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness
appealingly modest about her success in the fashion industry
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of modest
For Dëmin and Traoré, the stat line was modest.
—
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026
Research more strongly supports pomegranate juice for lowering blood pressure, with studies showing modest drops in systolic levels.
—Laura Schober, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
Their modest silhouettes offer a fresh take on sexiness, finding allure in comfort rather than showing skin.
—Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
And in Gossamer’s defense, the Phase 2 study results were modest and disappointing, not an outright failure.
—Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modest
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2026
Research more strongly supports pomegranate juice for lowering blood pressure, with studies showing modest drops in systolic levels.
—Laura Schober, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
Their modest silhouettes offer a fresh take on sexiness, finding allure in comfort rather than showing skin.
—Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
And in Gossamer’s defense, the Phase 2 study results were modest and disappointing, not an outright failure.
—Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modest
Adjective
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Today, the average time to get a container from a ship to a train is just under four days.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The agency said the man is approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 tall with an average build.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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California lifestyle If the architecture and location are pure aspirational California living, the Instagram campaign is something else entirely.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
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And in one of Fennell’s wildest edits, pure-hearted girl next door Isabella Linton (Alison Oliver) becomes a scary-horny savant à la Emma Stone in Poor Things, with a fabulous voodoo dollhouse and a questionably consensual taste for S&M.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Gone is the shy 21-year-old who talked effusively about figure skating, replaced by a young man whose words come in measured and concrete thoughts about a larger purpose.—
Les Carpenter,
Washington Post,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Luckily Fleming, a theater graduate who was also one credit shy of a minor in dance, has an arsenal of tools at his disposal to achieve this clarity.—
John Roy,
Vulture,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The psychological vulnerability this creates was encountered decades ago in a far humbler system.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
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And Scorsese approaches it all through the lens of Harrison’s humble humanism.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Many Dolton residents did show up and, in the comment section of the court hearing held via Zoom, asked the judge to show mercy on the village, where the median household income is about $58,000 and 22% of residents are below the poverty line.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
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Its rankings lean heavily on easy-to-package criteria, such as median LSAT scores, bar passage rates, and post-graduation job placement.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The wines were meticulously stored over the past two decades, meaning cases and bottles are immaculate.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
20 Feb. 2026
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The architecture was immaculate; the coordination, however, was rarely so.—
Malana VanTyler,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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The Flynns’ pompous neighbor, Jim Doherty, a divorcé with a withdrawn, unpleasant son, encourages Catherine’s artistic rebirth.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Martin, 52, is the harried face of this meek resistance.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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But savings were meek, with the largest dip found in Stockton, off only 4% last year vs up 2% in 2024 and 36% over the previous four years.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Modest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modest. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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