modest

adjective

ˈmä-dəst How to pronounce modest (audio)
Definition of modestnext
1
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size he was awarded a modest pension when he retired

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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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Synonym Chooser

How is the word modest distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of modest are chaste, decent, and pure. While all these words mean "free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious," modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.

preferred more modest swimsuits
decent people didn't go to such movies

When is it sensible to use chaste instead of modest?

While the synonyms chaste and modest are close in meaning, chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows.

they maintained chaste relations

How do pure and chaste relate to one another, in the sense of modest?

Pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.

the pure of heart

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of modest In 2025, Kelce posted a modest 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The vast majority, however, have earned much more modest additional income, if any at all. — Brennan Berg, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026 Although modest today, Great Falls was substantial for its time and reflects rapid advances in turbine and generator engineering during the early twentieth century. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 The Padres had kept their roster intact and added, by Preller’s standards, in modest fashion. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for modest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modest
  1. average
  2. pure
  3. shy
  4. humble
  5. median
  6. immaculate
  7. withdrawn
  8. meek
Adjective
  • This squad broke records for fielding the oldest average team in their Premier League era last season.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The average woman with a college degree now has her first child after age 35, a shift from decades ago, when many had children in their 20s.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of average
Adjective
  • The interactions between Bourdain and Ciro are pure movie magic and that’s due partly to the performances — both actors have to be in the Oscar race — as well as to the screenplay by Johnson, Todd Bartels, Lou Howe and Matthew Miller.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Unauthorized sequels reveal the extremes of why people make movies in the first place, from purely cynical money grabs to pure — even naive — devotion to characters and their world.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • At 51, Rabatin was a few years shy of the average age of onset, which is 55.
    — Beth Sobol, Flow Space, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Reacher is weirdly shy about telling Elspeth Sampson her husband might have an Indonesian love child, but Elspeth insists the Sampsons have no secrets.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of shy
Adjective
  • In May 2026, Google redesigned the humble yet powerful search box.
    — Parry Headrick, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Charlotte native was humble and patient, his coach previously told the Observer, and in 2013 became an All-American defensive lineman at JCSU — a title the school hadn’t seen since 2008.
    — Julia Coin August 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of humble
Adjective
  • And Latino Georgians are a median age of 27, compared with 42 for white Georgians.
    — Deborah Santiago, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In June, the median sales price hit $442,800, an all-time high for any month on data going back to 1999, NAR said.
    — Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of median
Adjective
  • Nothing of this reality is visible in the paintings themselves, whose facture is immaculate.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Welcome to Berkeley, where the vibes are immaculate, the views are world-class, and football enthusiasm has traditionally gone to die.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of immaculate
Adjective
  • In an era of ball-to-feet No 10s and withdrawn strikers, Welbeck stays high up the pitch, runs the channels and occupies defenders.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • The withdrawn earnings are taxed as ordinary income, the Treasury said.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Definition of withdrawn
Adjective
  • Closer to home, Liverpool have shown the pitfalls of an expensive facelift, splurging record sums on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak last summer only to free-fall from champions to a meek fifth-place finish.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • This is just one of many, many kinky situations Hoffman encounters as Elliot, a meek, wide-eyed college graduate who enters into a sadomasochistic relationship with gallery owner Erika Tracey (Olivia Wilde).
    — Anna Tingley, Variety, 31 July 2026
Definition of meek

Browse Nearby Words

modes
modest
modestly
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Cite this Entry

“Modest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modest. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of modest for Spanish Speakers

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