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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of modesty
To pursue genuine internationalism, liberals also need to develop a degree of modesty about democracy itself.
—
Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
In the article Culpo makes a few comments about the modesty of her Dolce & Gabbana dress that rub some readers the wrong way, and the situation spirals into a full-on controversy.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2025
Her modesty and nerves feel genuine.
—Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
The mesh fabric didn't cover as much as her extremely long, brown hair—a departure from the famous painting—which was stuffed into the dress and very deliberately situated for a wee bit of modesty.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for modesty
Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
In the article Culpo makes a few comments about the modesty of her Dolce & Gabbana dress that rub some readers the wrong way, and the situation spirals into a full-on controversy.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2025
Her modesty and nerves feel genuine.
—Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2025
The mesh fabric didn't cover as much as her extremely long, brown hair—a departure from the famous painting—which was stuffed into the dress and very deliberately situated for a wee bit of modesty.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for modesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modesty
Noun
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Most Canadians want uncomplicated lives, a desire for calm that can be misinterpreted by louder people as meekness.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
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Standing next to a record player in a sports jacket and turtleneck, Kaufman, with a kind of bulging meekness, a glisteningly gleeful timidity, puts the needle on the record.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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That’s a sprawling site that has been operating since 2003, and where Iran had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
21 June 2025
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These centrifuges had been enriching up to 5 percent purity, according to experts.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Noun
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The 80-year-old Parker, who’d been fielding calls from many of his former Terrier players since getting the call, accepted the honor with humility and his trademark humor.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
24 June 2025
-
Her lyrical density calls to mind the music of Gracie Abrams, another daughter of a director, who has tried with earnest humility to set her work apart.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Many of those charged protest their innocence vehemently, but since anti-doping agencies apply strict liability principles and apportion responsibility irrespective of intent, the consequences hit hard.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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Foxx’s office later withdrew opposition to their certificates of innocence, enabling their lawyers to use these certificates as evidence in lawsuits against the police.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Modesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modesty. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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