1
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size
he was awarded a modest pension when he retired
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of modest
The sample size was modest, especially for subgroup analyses.
—
New Atlas, 31 July 2025
The tsunami waves turned out to be relatively modest.
—Dan Morrison, USA Today, 30 July 2025
While Musk envisions high-speed transportation reaching triple-digit speeds, the reality in Las Vegas is much more modest.
—Stuart Dyos, The Tennessean, 30 July 2025
There is typically a seasonal decline in beef prices as grilling season slows down into the fall, but those price declines are likely to be modest.
—Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for modest
New Atlas, 31 July 2025
The tsunami waves turned out to be relatively modest.
—Dan Morrison, USA Today, 30 July 2025
While Musk envisions high-speed transportation reaching triple-digit speeds, the reality in Las Vegas is much more modest.
—Stuart Dyos, The Tennessean, 30 July 2025
There is typically a seasonal decline in beef prices as grilling season slows down into the fall, but those price declines are likely to be modest.
—Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for modest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modest
Adjective
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For example, a June 2024 publication in the RAND Health Quarterly described how drug prices in the U.S. were on average nearly three times higher than those in 33 other high-income countries.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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But the Briton has started getting close to Leclerc since Miami in May, the qualifying gap falling from around three-tenths of a second to a tenth on average.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Li Auto's first pure electric sport utility vehicle, the Li i8, comes in three variations, priced between 321,800 and 369,800 yuan ($44,700 and $51,400).—
Victoria Yeo,
CNBC,
4 Aug. 2025
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Stripped of glamour, his dissolution produces a kind of glamour of its own: that of pure addiction, the allure of never saying no.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The 26-year-old All-Pro very publicly requested a trade from Dallas yesterday, and fellow Cowboys players were not shy about voicing their support for the star edge rusher.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
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Isabella Sermon will appear opposite Lowden as Georgiana, Mr. Darcy's shy and shockingly accomplished teenage sister.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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During the Depression, smart cooks came up with a way to make a delicious, family-friendly dessert that required the most humble ingredients.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
2 Aug. 2025
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Today, the humble spud is the world’s third most important staple crop, providing critical calorie intake for billions of people.—
Jay Kakade
July 31,
New Atlas,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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And consistent with these perceptions, real median household income grew much faster during Trump’s first term than during the Biden era.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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What the data shows: The unemployment rate has been relatively steady for the past year, hovering around the 10-year monthly median rate of 4.1%.—
Jim Sergent,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The clinic was immaculate, the technology was more advanced than my local dentist's, and my new teeth feel incredible.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
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While the beaches tend to get crowded on peak-season weekends, large swaths of immaculate sand are wide open during weekdays and during the off-season.—
Kara Franker,
Southern Living,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Set in Taiwan in 1988, the intergenerational drama revolves around Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn girl, growing up in silent gloom.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 July 2025
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Everyone reacts differently to a cancer diagnosis: some men may want to talk openly, others may become quiet or withdrawn.—
Alex Apatoff,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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In Kurosawa’s version, the chauffeur was an exceedingly meek man who got down on the floor to beg his stern shoe-manufacturer boss, played by the great Toshiro Mifune, to save his son.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2025
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Antoinette becomes a de facto leader when her meek husband crumbles under pressure.—
Los Angeles Times Staff,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Modest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modest. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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