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- pronunciation:
- ma
dihst
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
If you are modest, you don't tell other people how great you are. You don't brag about your success or the great things you've done.
The firefighter was modest about his rescue of the children. He said that anyone would have done what he did.Anne got the highest grade in the class, but because she is so modest she didn't tell anybody.- synonyms:
- humble, reserved
- antonyms:
- outgoing
- similar words:
- shy, timid
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| definition 2: |
If you are modest, you don't think your abilities are anything special. Your opinion of yourself and what you can do is not super high, even it it should be. For example, you might think you are only an average player on your team when actually you are one of the best and you have a lot of talent.
The art teacher told Amy she was too modest and she should believe in herself more.Richard is very modest, and he's always embarrassed when his coach says good things about him to the other players.- synonyms:
- humble
- antonyms:
- arrogant, proud, superior
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| definition 3: |
If something is modest, it is simple and not fancy.
The couple could have bought a much larger house, but they were happy in their modest home with its nice little garden.- synonyms:
- humble
- antonyms:
- magnificent
- similar words:
- plain
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| definition 4: |
If you are modest, you are shy about showing your body, or you don't think it's right to show too much of it. If a piece of clothing is modest, it doesn't show too much of a person's body.
Jacob is a modest boy. He always wears a T-shirt with his swimming suit.Ms. Clark is too modest to wear very short skirts.Mrs. Russo chose a modest swimsuit to take on her trip.- synonyms:
- decent
- similar words:
- appropriate, proper, tasteful
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| definition 5: |
If someone makes a modest income, they don't make a lot of money but they make enough. If someone has a modest amount of talent, they may not be an amazing star, but they are pretty good.
Mrs. Ryan has a modest number of friends now in her new community, so she's quite happy these days.- synonyms:
- medium, moderate
- antonyms:
- great
- similar words:
- adequate, average, fair, normal, slight, small, standard, typical
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| related words: |
reasonable |
| derivation: |
modestly (adv.) |
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