Modest: meaning, definitions and examples

Appropriate when describing someone who does not boast about their achievements, abilities, or possessions.

• She won the award but remained modest about her success.
• He has a modest house in the countryside.

Used to describe a person's genuine lack of superiority, often combined with kindness and respect for others.

• Despite his fame, the actor remains humble and approachable.
• She humbly accepted the compliment, noting her team's efforts.

Describes someone who is modest by not showing any desire to be noticed or praised, often perceived as sincere.

• The unassuming teacher had a significant impact on her students.
• His unassuming demeanor made him easy to approach and talk to.

Describes a person who is shy and does not draw attention to themselves, often downplaying their own importance.

• Her self-effacing nature made her popular among her peers, as she never sought the spotlight.
• He was self-effacing about his role in the project, giving credit to his team instead.

Best for describing someone who is emotionally restrained, does not openly express feelings or opinions.

• He's quite reserved and doesn't talk much at parties.
• She remained reserved during the meeting, offering only minimal input.

When describing someone who does not boast about their abilities or achievements; can also refer to something that is not very large or impressive.

• She is very modest about her success.
• They lived in a modest house on the outskirts of town.

Used to describe something that is easy to understand or not complicated; can also mean humble and not elaborate.

• We need a simple solution to this problem.
• The ceremony was simple but heartfelt.

When something lacks decoration or is straightforward without complexity; often used to describe simple clothing, food, or language.

• She prefers plain clothes without any patterns.
• The instructions were written in plain English.

Describing someone or something that does not seek to impress others with an appearance of greater importance or value than is actually possessed; carries a positive connotation of authenticity.

• He was an unpretentious artist who lived simply and focused on his work.
• The restaurant is known for its unpretentious atmosphere and friendly service.

When something is not obvious and requires careful observation to notice; often used to describe slight changes or nuanced differences.

• There was a subtle change in her tone.
• The perfume had a subtle fragrance.