Thesaurus

modest

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of modest

1 being about midway between extremes of amount or size

he was awarded a modest pension when he retired

Synonyms of modest

average, intermediate, mean, median, medium, middle, middling, midsize (also midsized), moderate

Words Related to modest

common, commonplace, conventional, normal, popular, regular, routine, standard, typical, usual

adequate, passable, tolerable

Near Antonyms of modest

excessive, extreme

exceptional, rare, strange, uncommon, unusual

distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique

individual, peculiar, private

2 free from any trace of the coarse or indecent

tended to wear more modest swimsuits than the thong-clad guests at the resort

Synonyms of modest

chaste, clean, decent, G-rated, immaculate, pure, vestal, virgin, virginal

Words Related to modest

lily-white, spotless, stainless, unblemished, undefiled, unsoiled, unspotted, unstained, unsullied, untainted, untarnished

decorous, proper, seemly

cultivated, refined, tasteful

harmless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive

Near Antonyms of modest

blemished, defiled, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, tainted, tarnished

improper, indecorous, indelicate, ribald, unseemly

crude, tacky, tasteless, unrefined

Antonyms of modest

coarse, dirty, filthy, immodest, impure, indecent, obscene, smutty, unchaste, unclean, vulgar

3 not comfortable around people

a modest winner who said a quick thank-you and promptly left the stage

Synonyms of modest

backward, bashful, coy, demure, diffident, introverted, recessive, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish, shy, withdrawn

Words Related to modest

antisocial, lone, lone-wolf, unsociable, unsocial

awkward, embarrassed, self-conscious, unadventurous, unassertive, unenterprising

inhibited, reserved, uneasy, uptight

Near Antonyms of modest

boon, clubbable (also clubable), companionable, convivial, gregarious, sociable, social

bold, dashing, forceful

brash, forward, overbold, uninhibited, unreserved

Antonyms of modest

extroverted (also extraverted), immodest, outgoing

4 not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness

appealingly modest about her success in the fashion industry

Synonyms of modest

demure, down-to-earth, humble, lowly, meek, unassuming, unpretentious

Words Related to modest

acquiescent, compliant, deferential, resigned, submissive, unaggressive, unassertive, yielding

cowering, cringing, shrinking

ingenuous, naive (or naïve), plain, simple, unaffected

bashful, diffident, introverted, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, passive, quiet, reserved, retiring, sheepish, shy, subdued, timid, unobtrusive

aw-shucks, self-deprecating, self-deprecatory, self-effacing

Near Antonyms of modest

aggressive, assertive, audacious, bold, brash, brassy, cheeky, forward, impertinent, impudent, saucy

cocksure, cocky, confident, hubristic, overconfident, self-confident

egocentric, egoistic (also egoistical), narcissistic, prideful, self-affected, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-congratulatory, self-contented, self-engrossed, self-important, self-obsessed, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, stuck-up, swelled-headed

boastful, bombastic, braggy, swaggering, vain, vainglorious

condescending, disdainful, dominant, dominating, domineering, magisterial, overbearing, patronizing, pontificating

flamboyant, ostentatious, showy

extroverted (also extraverted), immodest, outgoing, uninhibited, unreserved

Antonyms of modest

arrogant, bumptious, chesty, conceited, egotistic (or egotistical), fastuous, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, hoity-toity, huffish, huffy, imperious, lordly, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about modest

Dictionary: Definition of modest Spanish Central: Translation of modest Nglish: Translation of modest for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of modest for Arabic speakers

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