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
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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
Williams’ biggest blemish was his modest production last season — five sacks and 26 quarterback pressures.
—
Matt Barrows, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
The American democratic republic, a modest British colony that became the world’s richest country and greatest military power, has died.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
Alexandria Dwight’s older children all attended The Rock at Stony Point Learning Center, a Head Start on the bottom level of a modest red-brick church in Kansas City, Kansas.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2025
In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed amid modest moves across much of Europe and Asia.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for modest
Matt Barrows, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
The American democratic republic, a modest British colony that became the world’s richest country and greatest military power, has died.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
Alexandria Dwight’s older children all attended The Rock at Stony Point Learning Center, a Head Start on the bottom level of a modest red-brick church in Kansas City, Kansas.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2025
In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed amid modest moves across much of Europe and Asia.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for modest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modest
Adjective
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The American Public Health Association says that as global average temperatures rise, these trends will continue and make allergies an increasing public health concern.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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The average salary of a family medicine physician is slightly over $300,000, compared with more than $565,000 for a cardiologist and over $763,000 for a neurosurgeon, according to one study.—
Bernard J. Wolfson and Vanessa G. Sánchez,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Booker seems like the top pure guard in this year's draft class, making his overall positional value lower.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
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Kiper calls him the best pure guard in the draft, a road-grader in the run game.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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By the end of regulation, Nylander had played only 15.5 minutes, a smidge less than Tavares, who was just shy of 16.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
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Mostly cloudy skies will keep temperatures around 65 degrees in the metro Saturday, which is just a few degrees shy of the average of 68 for this time of year.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Like a cat with nine lives, the building has undergone multiple renovations since its humble start as a savonnerie, or soap factory, in 1630.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2025
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But why has this humble $2.99 bag, ostensibly intended to carry produce, turned into such a status symbol?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In Lisbon, median real estate sales prices soared 62% from 2018 to 2024.—
Meehika Barua,
HubSpot,
18 Apr. 2025
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The median sales price in the area is now $476,667, according to Zillow.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In early April, for instance, she was spotted in an immaculate white suit with a double-breasted blazer, gold jewelry, a hint of cleavage, and sharply tailored dress pants.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
16 Apr. 2025
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The historic center, where the palace and government buildings lie between massive castles built by the Portuguese, hugs an immaculate harbor ringed by buildings that look like a set from a fantasy film.—
Chris Wallace,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Its influence on the withdrawn protagonist, Jamie (played by Owen Cooper), is largely implied.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025
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The withdrawn San Francisco drama, about lonely nonbinary nanny and restaurant server Cass (Asia Kate Dillon), is simple in its presentation, but disguises numerous layers to its story.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Episodes 5 and 6 inverted the relationship between abrasive eldest boy Saxon and the meek baby of the family, Lochlan.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
31 Mar. 2025
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Ahead of the clash with Bournemouth, Guardiola has said not even victory in the competition would salvage the poor showings in the Champions League and meek surrender of the Premier League title.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Modest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modest. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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