modest

[mod-ist]

adjective

1. having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one's merits, importance, etc.; free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions.

   Synonyms: unobtrusive, unpretentious, unassuming, retiring

2. free from ostentation or showy extravagance.

   a modest house.

   Synonyms: unobtrusive, unpretentious

3. having or showing regard for the decencies of behavior, speech, dress, etc.; decent.

   a modest neckline on a dress.

   Synonyms: virtuous, pure
   Antonyms: coarse, bold

4. limited or moderate in amount, extent, etc..

   a modest increase in salary.

modest

/ ˈmɒdɪst /

adjective

1. having or expressing a humble opinion of oneself or one's accomplishments or abilities

2. reserved or shy

   modest behaviour

3. not ostentatious or pretentious

4. not extreme or excessive; moderate

5. decorous or decent

Other Word Forms

• modestly adverb
• hypermodest adjective
• hypermodestness noun
• overmodest adjective
• pseudomodest adjective
• quasi-modest adjective
• supermodest adjective
• unmodest adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of modest¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin modestus “restrained, decorous,” equivalent to modes- (stem of unattested modus, an s- stem akin to modus “measured amount, limit, manner” ( mode ¹ ), perhaps from unattested medos, with the vowel of modus; compare moderārī “to moderate” ( moderate, from the same noun stem) + -tus adjective suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of modest¹

C16: via Old French from Latin modestus moderate, from modus _mode

Synonym Study

Modest, demure, prudish imply conformity to propriety and decorum, and a distaste for anything coarse or loud. Modest implies a becoming shyness, sobriety, and proper behavior: a modest, self-respecting person. Demure implies a bashful, quiet simplicity, staidness, and decorum; but can also indicate an assumed or affected modesty: a demure young chorus girl. Prudish suggests an exaggeratedly self-conscious modesty or propriety in behavior or conversation of one who wishes to be thought of as easily shocked and who often is intolerant: a prudish objection to a harmless remark.

Example Sentences

The ATF offered a modest narrative of how the fire department battled the Jan. 1 blaze.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A statement from the California Department of Education characterized the results as “modest increases at a higher rate than the year prior, suggesting growing momentum.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Don’t get too excited, he said — the extra inflation adjustment is “more a footnote than anything” because its impact is modest.

Read more on MarketWatch

That could lead to an ”air pocket,” with the market seeing a modest pullback in the not-too-distant future, he said.

Read more on MarketWatch

And offsetting the show’s modest annoyances is the rare chance to see more than 100 items, some never before displayed, that embody the story of Anne Frank and her family.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• humble 
• moderate 
• prudent 
• quiet 
• simple 
• unassuming