MODEST: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for MODEST?

Need another word that means the same as “modest”? Find 36 synonyms and 30 related words for “modest” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Modest” are: small, minor, pocket-size, pocket-sized, small-scale, humble, low, lowly, meek, mild, self-effacing, self-deprecating, unpretentious, unassuming, unpresuming, unostentatious, low-key, free from vanity, moderate, fair, tolerable, passable, adequate, satisfactory, acceptable, unexceptional, ordinary, simple, plain, homely, decorous, decent, seemly, demure, sober, severe

Modest as an Adjective

Definitions of "Modest" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “modest” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Not large, elaborate, or expensive.
• (of an amount, rate, or level) relatively moderate, limited, or small.
• Relatively moderate, limited, or small.
• Humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness.
• Not offensive to sexual mores in conduct or appearance.
• Limited in size or scope.
• Not large but sufficient in size or amount.
• Free from pomp or affectation.
• (of clothing) not revealing or emphasizing a person's body.
• Dressing or behaving so as to avoid impropriety or indecency, especially to avoid attracting sexual attention (typically used of a woman.
• Marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself.
• Low or inferior in station or quality.
• Unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements.

Synonyms of "Modest" as an adjective (36 Words)

acceptable	Pleasing; welcome. The water was acceptable for drinking.
adequate	Having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task. Her training was adequate.
decent	Decently clothed. A decent burial.
decorous	In keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained. Charlotte gave David a decorous kiss.
demure	Reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman. A demure knee length skirt.
fair	(of words) specious despite being initially attractive. By fair means or foul.
free from vanity	Not fixed in position.
homely	Having a feeling of home; cozy and comfortable. Plain homely furniture.
humble	Marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful- B.K.Malinowski. A humble cottage.
low	Of a vowel pronounced with the tongue held low in the mouth open. The river was low.
low-key	Restrained in style or quality.
lowly	(of an organism) primitive or simple. She d been too good for her lowly position.
meek	Very docile- Langston Hughes. She brought her meek little husband along.
mild	Mild and pleasant. A mild winter storm.
minor	Of a key or mode based on a minor scale and tending to produce a sad or pensive effect. The minor keys.
moderate	Average in amount, intensity, quality, or degree. The X ray showed moderate enlargement of the heart.
ordinary	Lacking special distinction, rank, or status; commonly encountered. She seemed very ordinary.
passable	Able to be passed or traversed or crossed. The road was passable with care.
plain	Not using concealment or deception; frank. Plain food.
pocket-size	Small enough to be carried in a garment pocket.
pocket-sized	Small enough to be carried in a garment pocket.
satisfactory	(of evidence or a verdict) sufficient for the needs of the case. Mrs Reeves was satisfactory and improving slightly in Middlesbrough General Hospital last night.
seemly	Conforming to accepted notions of propriety or good taste; decorous. Seemly behavior.
self-deprecating	Conscious of your own shortcomings.
self-effacing	Reluctant to draw attention to yourself.
severe	Severely simple. Severe pain.
simple	Used to emphasize the fundamental and straightforward nature of something. Simple mechanisms.
small	Have fine or very small constituent particles. Small children.
small-scale	Created or drawn on a small scale.
sober	Dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises. His expression became sober.
tolerable	Fairly good; mediocre. The climate is at least tolerable.
unassuming	Not arrogant or presuming. Unassuming to a fault skeptical about the value of his work.
unexceptional	Not special in any way. An unexceptional movie.
unostentatious	Not ostentatious. He was generous in a quiet unostentatious way.
unpresuming	Modest; unassuming. A quiet unpresuming man.
unpretentious	Exhibiting restrained good taste. Her quiet unpretentious demeanor.

Usage Examples of "Modest" as an adjective

• He was a very modest man, refusing to take any credit for the enterprise.
• Modest inflation.
• A modest salary.
• A newspaper with a modest circulation.
• The modest women wear long-sleeved dresses and all but cover their faces.
• Modest dress means that hemlines must be below the knee.
• Too modest to wear his medals.
• A modest apartment.
• Drink modest amounts of alcohol.
• Comfortable but modest cottages.
• A modest neckline in her dress covered her up to her collarbone.
• Employment growth was relatively modest.
• A modest man of the people.
• A modest flat in Fulham.
• It was a nice wedding, necessarily modest.

Associations of "Modest" (30 Words)

chivalrous	Being attentive to women like an ideal knight. The concept of chivalrous combat.
chivalry	Courtesy towards women. I fought against the cream of French chivalry.
civility	Polite remarks used in formal conversation. I hope we can treat each other with civility and respect.
comity	The mutual recognition by nations of the laws and customs of others. A show of public comity in the White House.
condescendingly	With condescension; in a patronizing manner. He treats his secretary condescendingly.
courteous	Characterized by courtesy and gracious good manners. A courteous young man.
courtesy	The showing of politeness in one’s attitude and behaviour towards others. A courtesy car.
couth	Refined. It is more couth to hold your shrimp genteelly by the tail when eating.
curtsy	Make a curtsy usually done only by girls and women as a sign of respect. She bobbed a curtsy to him.
decent	Decently clothed. A decent high necked dress.
humble	Used of unskilled work (especially domestic work. She came from a humble unprivileged background.
humbleness	A humble feeling.
humility	A disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride. He needs the humility to accept that their way may be better.
improbably	Not easy to believe. Everyone in the film is improbably gorgeous.
interim	An interim dividend profit etc. An interim agreement.
intermediate	A person at an intermediate level of knowledge or skill. Groups which intermediated between the individual and the state.
lowliness	A position of inferior status; low in station or rank or fortune or estimation.
lowly	Of low birth or station (`base’ is archaic in this sense. A lowly corporal.
meekness	The feeling of patient, submissive humbleness. All his best friends make fun of him for his meekness.
menial	A person with a menial job. Menial factory jobs.
mild	Mild and pleasant. A mild fever.
moderate	A person who holds moderate views especially in politics. We walked at a moderate pace.
polite	Showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc. The picture outraged polite society.
respectful	Full of or exhibiting respect. They sit in respectful silence.
respectfully	In a respectful manner. The butler bowed respectfully to them both.
unassuming	Not pretentious or arrogant; modest. Unassuming to a fault skeptical about the value of his work.
unbelievably	To a great degree; extremely. Unbelievably all this is yours for 50p.
unimpressive	Not capable of impressing. He was a man of unimpressive appearance.
unpretentious	Not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed. An unpretentious country church.
virtue	(in traditional Christian angelology) the seventh-highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy. Paragons of virtue.