1
as in humbly
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion
spoke modestly about his accomplishments as an entrepreneur
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in innocently
with purity of thought and deed
dressed modestly to go to church
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of modestly
Crude oil prices edged up modestly while oil stocks like Chevron , Exxon , and SLB surged on the news.
—
Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Yet Venezuela's limited crude production is likely to mute any immediate impact on oil prices, which fell modestly in afternoon trading on Saturday, according to FactSet.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
Moderate drinking may slightly increase breast cancer risk but not most other cancers, while light drinking may modestly reduce cardiovascular risk.
—Robert M. Kaplan, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
Cinnamon and cinnamon extracts have been reported in multiple trials and reviews to modestly lower fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c (average blood sugar level over two or three months) in some people.
—Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 31 Dec. 2025
No spoilers here, but Tutty, Pitts and all concerned with the modestly staged Two Strangers are worthy of whatever good comes their way.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
After years of steep increases, PG&E customers are expected to see modestly lower electric and gas bills starting in January 2026, according to a new regulatory filing by the utility.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Sellers Will Get a Value Boost This Year Despite home values rising only modestly in 2025, the new year should bring value gains for homeowners across the United States.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Dec. 2025
But, in the third section, the motifs that have recurred, albeit modestly, in the two earlier ones now burst out to dominate the action and, in the process, cast the previous stories in their retrospective light.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Yet Venezuela's limited crude production is likely to mute any immediate impact on oil prices, which fell modestly in afternoon trading on Saturday, according to FactSet.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
Moderate drinking may slightly increase breast cancer risk but not most other cancers, while light drinking may modestly reduce cardiovascular risk.
—Robert M. Kaplan, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
Cinnamon and cinnamon extracts have been reported in multiple trials and reviews to modestly lower fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c (average blood sugar level over two or three months) in some people.
—Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 31 Dec. 2025
No spoilers here, but Tutty, Pitts and all concerned with the modestly staged Two Strangers are worthy of whatever good comes their way.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
After years of steep increases, PG&E customers are expected to see modestly lower electric and gas bills starting in January 2026, according to a new regulatory filing by the utility.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Sellers Will Get a Value Boost This Year Despite home values rising only modestly in 2025, the new year should bring value gains for homeowners across the United States.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Dec. 2025
But, in the third section, the motifs that have recurred, albeit modestly, in the two earlier ones now burst out to dominate the action and, in the process, cast the previous stories in their retrospective light.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modestly
Adverb
-
Despite his success, Yamamoto still carries himself humbly.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
-
While skiing in the Dolomites, I was humbly reminded that most hotel rooms in Italy don’t have coffee makers.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
His friend had innocently landed on that scene.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Oct. 2025
-
In a thriller, the suspense is built around a challenge posed to the protagonist — the last big score before retiring, being innocently accused of a crime or accidentally getting involved in something dangerous and deadly.—
Anders de la Motte,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
As seen in a video shared to X by Lizzie Robinson of ITV, the Princess of Wales politely said hello to a patient there, asked her name and made the connection between the woman and William, the heir to the throne.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Fear, hunger and repression did not stop politely at national borders.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Shields, 62, sheepishly joked after two false starts.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Nov. 2025
-
An engineer with a litter-picker grabbed the fallen cloth and sheepishly moved it behind the machine, out of my line of sight.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
This timing is meant to ensure the pill absorbs properly, McCoy explained.—
Jenna Anderson,
Health,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Keep in mind that firm menstrual cups are more likely to open properly after being inserted.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Princess Bride is superbly planned and deferentially orchestrated — its theme fits its telling.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The United States Supreme Court this week is considering the crucial constitutional argument of whether the president has the power to levy tariffs on foreign goods, or whether any such taxes on American consumers and businesses are purely in the purview of the Congress.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Here, however, Makowsky examines a purely ignoble figure who feels entitled without accomplishing a thing.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
In other words, students prepare for citizenship in a disputatious society by practicing the civic arts—by asserting and advocating for their views—not by meekly absorbing lessons from their instructors.—
Christopher L. Eisgruber,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Well, after years of stuttering, pausing, juddering, waiting for the goalkeeper to dive and then rolling spot kicks meekly into the net, Nick Woltemade may have just reversed the trend.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Modestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modestly. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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