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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of modest
Viewership in this market remains modest, far below what traditional hockey cities would produce if their team were playing in the Finals.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
With the modest inflation moves, real average hourly earnings increased 0.3% for the month and were up 1.4% from a year ago.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 June 2025
His tombstone was flat and modest; people had left bouquets and stones.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
My social media agency started with modest goals that seemed sensible for a new entrepreneur.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for modest
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
With the modest inflation moves, real average hourly earnings increased 0.3% for the month and were up 1.4% from a year ago.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 June 2025
His tombstone was flat and modest; people had left bouquets and stones.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
My social media agency started with modest goals that seemed sensible for a new entrepreneur.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for modest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modest
Adjective
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For the contiguous United States, on average, July is the hottest month of the year.—
Dan Peck,
ABC News,
3 June 2025
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When psychologists and researchers began tracking attention spans in 2004, the average attention span on any screen was about two and a half minutes.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps the truth, however, is that Emmanuel-Thomas, in pure sporting terms, has always been something of a puzzle.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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At the same time, demand for hybrids and plug-in hybrids is diverting sales away from pure EVs.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Allen also hasn't been shy with his praise for his now-wife, particularly her support of his football career.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
2 June 2025
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Instead of crunch, there’s an intense smoke flavor that’s just shy of overpowering, and a denseness similar to ham.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
The humble statement was met with loud protests from all of his onstage colleagues, as well as Armisen.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
4 June 2025
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The humble bathroom scale has long been overdue to learn some new tricks.—
Christopher Null,
Wired News,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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For many workers, that target can be difficult to match, considering that median income for full-time workers in their 30s is roughly $60,000 to $70,000, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data for the first quarter of 2025.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
5 June 2025
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The median income for suburban renters, at $42,500, lags significantly behind that of homeowners, who earn an average of over $86,000.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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This immaculate financial status provides Lululemon with both strength during downturns and the ability to invest in further growth.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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His voice is immaculate, but his main influence is Chris Brown.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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For children, especially, these stressors can quickly lead to meltdowns or withdrawn behavior.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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My main criticism is its withdrawn camera, which is set too far away from the action in most stages.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That confidence paid off as Farrow received her first Tony nomination for her role as the initially meek homebody Sharon in the play by Jen Silverman, which ran at the Booth Theatre on Broadway from September through December 2024.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
31 May 2025
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According to the latest report from L.A.’s film office, production days on location decreased more than 22 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared with an already meek period in 2024.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Modest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modest. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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