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
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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
Iran’s legal system is based on one interpretation of what Islam teaches about gender roles and modesty for women, and is used to control women, said Iqbal Akhtar, professor of politics and international relations and religious studies at Florida International University.
—
Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Mike Kelly, a former Vikings executive turned technology CEO who remains a season ticket holder, long felt this modesty was what separated Brzezinski from other front-office types.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Part of her appeal is that, even though her voice is commanding, there’s nothing particularly imperious about her personality, which borders on something like modesty.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
His quiet tone is not shyness or false modesty but circumspection and a sense of boundaries that imply respect and love for real communication.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modesty
Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Mike Kelly, a former Vikings executive turned technology CEO who remains a season ticket holder, long felt this modesty was what separated Brzezinski from other front-office types.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Part of her appeal is that, even though her voice is commanding, there’s nothing particularly imperious about her personality, which borders on something like modesty.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
His quiet tone is not shyness or false modesty but circumspection and a sense of boundaries that imply respect and love for real communication.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for modesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modesty
Noun
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Such meekness is understandable from him.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
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Likewise, meekness once meant not becoming weak, but subjugating power to reason – not letting anger take control.—
Timothy J. Pawl,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Our legislators need to get back to recognizing that they are not elected for their party affiliation or to meet the ideological purity tests of their donors, but rather to solve the problems of the people that reside in our great state.—
Jayden D'Onofrio,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
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Tapping into the soft skills that for millennia have allowed women to profit outside the bounds of conventional economy, the tradwife offers a vision of purity to her online audience in exchange for engagement and direct or indirect income.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Perhaps because of Chicago’s many diverse neighborhoods, or its blue-collar history, or its frigid winters, the city epitomizes the values of hard work, kindness toward others, humility, and basic common-sense and decency.—
Daniel Holz,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
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Morning humility check, evening confidence reinforcement.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Machado maintained his innocence to reporters postgame, but his history with the Red Sox did him no favors.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
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Adapted for television by Adolescence co-creator, Emmy winner Jack Thorne, in Lord of the Flies, innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The humbleness comes from the fact that Mendoza wasn’t supposed to be here.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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And well done Connor Storrie for acknowledging her response with kindness and humbleness.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Modesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modesty. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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