1
as in meekness
the absence of any feelings of being better than others
his natural modesty makes him reluctant to run for public office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in purity
the quality or state of being morally pure
in this day and age, that's very becoming modesty in a teenager
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 modesty
Author John Neihardt described Crazy Horse in his book Black Elk Speaks as a person of great modesty and reserve but who was generous to the poor, elderly, and children.
—
Chip Bell, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Dylan arrives on the scene with the false modesty of predestination, touched by God but desperate for a place to sleep for the night.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2024
But the modesty of its proposals underscores the reality that there is no good solution for Japanese security if the country cannot rely on the alliance with the United States.
—Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2020
For women wearing Islamic face coverings or headscarves, many felt this was a clear attempt at weaponizing their modesty against them, said Baloch.
—Esha Mitra, CNN, 30 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for modesty
Chip Bell, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Dylan arrives on the scene with the false modesty of predestination, touched by God but desperate for a place to sleep for the night.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Dec. 2024
But the modesty of its proposals underscores the reality that there is no good solution for Japanese security if the country cannot rely on the alliance with the United States.
—Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2020
For women wearing Islamic face coverings or headscarves, many felt this was a clear attempt at weaponizing their modesty against them, said Baloch.
—Esha Mitra, CNN, 30 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for modesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modesty
Noun
-
Most disconcerting is the meekness of Washington’s supposedly stalwart European allies.—
Raphael Cohen,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Nov. 2014
-
But to see Bass as a kumbaya leader — or to mistake her softness for meekness — is to fundamentally misunderstand her.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2024
Noun
-
This level of enrichment is just a technical step away from reaching the 90% purity required for nuclear weapons.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Bars and coins are often purchased for their purity and weight, while jewelry combines investment with aesthetics.—
Gabriel O Rodríguez,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Black women frequently overachieve just to receive a fraction of the recognition and are often expected to balance confidence with humility.—
Lyric Christian,
Essence,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Luka did not have Dirk’s sense of humor, or a level of humility that endeared him to the world.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Sosa had previously claimed his innocence when asked about using PEDs, and had been estranged from his former franchise since his 2007 retirement.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Their attorneys have maintained the brothers’ innocence.—
Claire Healy,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Modesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modesty. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share