Synonyms of modesty

modesty

noun

ˈmä-də-stē 

1

as in meekness

the absence of any feelings of being better than others

his natural modesty makes him reluctant to run for public office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• meekness
• humility
• humbleness
• demureness
• lowliness
• quietness
• directness
• down-to-earthness
• submissiveness
• deference
• passivity
• compliance
• naïveté
• acquiescence
• timidity
• ingenuousness
• submission
• bashfulness
• plainness
• diffidence
• timidness
• sheepishness
• reserve
• reservedness
• shyness
• simpleness
• resignedness
• mousiness
• retiringness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• arrogance
• pride
• haughtiness
• assumption
• superiority
• egoism
• loftiness
• pretense
• imperiousness
• egotism
• conceit
• superciliousness
• attitude
• presumptuousness
• pomposity
• hauteur
• pretension
• pretentiousness
• assertiveness
• boldness
• pompousness
• pridefulness
• peremptoriness
• aggressiveness
• lordliness
• bumptiousness
• forwardness
• huffiness
• brashness
• overconfidence
• cheekiness
• swagger
• audaciousness
• impudence
• cockiness
• temerity
• cheek
• toploftiness
• cocksureness
• insolence
• vanity
• sauciness
• nerve
• impertinence
• boastfulness
• brassiness
• disdain
• swash
• self-satisfaction
• self-importance
• self-conceit
• condescension
• self-complacency
• self-opinion
• self-glorification
• scorn
• ostentation
• self-centeredness
• flamboyance
• vaingloriousness
• chest-thumping
• showiness
• ostentatiousness
• self-applause
• self-assumption
• self-partiality

2

as in purity

the quality or state of being morally pure

in this day and age, that's very becoming modesty in a teenager

Synonyms & Similar Words

• purity
• innocence
• virtue
• goodness
• chastity
• morality
• chasteness
• immaculacy
• righteousness
• decorum
• decency
• virtuousness
• rectitude
• probity
• propriety
• seemliness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impurity
• unchastity
• evil
• immodesty
• wickedness
• sinfulness
• badness
• unrighteousness
• vulgarity
• unchasteness
• indecency
• impropriety

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of modesty

Although bikini-esque garments stretch back to Roman times, the 20th century began with a period of great modesty and puritanism. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026

In granting the President this unbridled authority, the Court upends its precedent, misconstrues our history, and sheds any pretense of judicial modesty. — Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 29 June 2026

Then his campaign was done with modesty and humor, without pretention or obvious promises that would never be kept. — Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026

This combination of serene confidence and epistemic modesty—this comfort with shades of gray—is rare among contemporary Christians. — Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026