modestly

adverb

Definition of modestlynext
1
as in humbly
in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion spoke modestly about his accomplishments as an entrepreneur

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in innocently
with purity of thought and deed dressed modestly to go to church

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 modestly Strong first-half absorption paired with a collapsing delivery schedule is the classic precondition for pricing power to return in the back half of the year — modestly and unevenly, market by market, but return nonetheless. — Brad Hunter, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Statins can also modestly increase blood sugar and the likelihood of developing diabetes, especially in people who already have risk factors for diabetes. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 27 July 2026 The stock rose modestly Monday and Friday, but was tracking to become our third-worst performing stock of the week, down almost 8% over the past five days. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 July 2026 Site leader John McCarron says Lynn has sharply increased production in recent years without adding buildings, raising its workforce only modestly, to around 1,700. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 July 2026 My reading of the data is that headline visitor counts in 2027 may be roughly flat, perhaps even down modestly in the domestic budget segment. — Michael Cheng, The Conversation, 23 July 2026 Tariffs modestly raised prices, and the inflationary effect is largely over, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said in a speech this month. — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2026 For Pell Grant recipients and students from underrepresented groups, the gap has narrowed — but only modestly. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026 Regular-fat cheese was associated with a modestly lower dementia risk. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modestly
  1. humbly
  2. innocently
  3. politely
  4. chastely
  5. sheepishly
  6. properly
  7. deferentially
  8. purely
Adverb
  • This time, France is the favorite (no matter what their coach Didier Deschamps humbly claims).
    — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 14 July 2026
  • The restaurant from Yao and co-owners Ryan Bailey and Nikki Reginaldo began humbly, as did its beverage program.
    — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
Definition of humbly
Adverb
  • Their amalgamation with the other color produces a degradation to which no lover of his country, no lover of excellence in the human character can innocently consent.
    — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
  • It was innocently posted by motorsports reporter Cole Cusumano, who was there covering the race.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of innocently
Adverb
  • The Dodgers should take the pressure off the players by politely declining an invitation to visit.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
  • Harrelson offered a puff to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who politely declined.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 23 July 2026
Definition of politely
Adverb
  • Take The Music Lesson, a study of a young woman playing the virginal, closely watched by a gentleman, which Graham-Dixon reads as a depiction of Collegiants chastely performing and singing psalms.
    — Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Definition of chastely
Adverb
  • But their erotic encounter is short-lived, as Joe tumbles and blows his back out while sheepishly dancing to Sade.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • This is sending shivers down the spines of regular Democrats, who now sheepishly admit the party has been turned over to the left-wing loons.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
Definition of sheepishly
Adverb
  • Pre-chilling your cooler and its contents, layering ice strategically, and packing food properly can all help keep everything colder for longer.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026
  • The vulnerability, which stems from a failure to properly filter HTML embedded in an email, allows malicious JavaScript execution.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026
Definition of properly
Adverb
  • Precedent thus gave the judge reason to deferentially review settlement terms.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
  • Scorsese shoots them beautifully and deferentially.
    — Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of deferentially
Adverb
  • This is often why healthcare is considered an art, rather than purely a science.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Lautz did not put a purely negative framing on the current state of generational housing economics, including the fact that Boomers appear to be upsizing and using their wealth advantage to upsize.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 July 2026
Definition of purely

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Cite this Entry

“Modestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modestly. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of modestly for Spanish Speakers

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