modesty
ˈmɒdəsti
Definition Synonyms

Definition of modesty - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

1.
behaviorbehavior characterized by moderation and reserve
  • He spoke with modesty during the interview.
bashfulness humility reserve
2.
humilityfreedom from vanity or conceit
  • His modesty was admired by all his friends.
humbleness humility unpretentiousness
3.
pudencyRareavoidance of sexual explicitnessRare
  • Her modesty was evident in her choice of clothing.
chastity decency propriety
Add a suggestion |

Expressions with modesty

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
behave to avoid drawing undue attention
He spoke quietly to protect his modesty.
showing humility when talking about yourself or your achievements
In all modesty, I think I did a good job.
fabric piece attached to clothing to cover cleavage or skin
She added a modesty panel to her dress to make it suitable for the ceremony..
humble acknowledgment of one's achievements or qualities
With all due modesty, I led the project to success.
pretending to be humble to gain praise
Her false modesty was obvious when she downplayed her success.
vertical panel on a desk for privacy
The desk includes a modesty board for added privacy.

Origin of modesty

Latin, modestus (moderate)

Terms with modesty included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
clothing
clothe oneself for warmth or modesty
clothing
clothing worn over other clothes, usually for modesty or warmth
inner clothing
clothing worn under outer garments for modesty or comfort
clothing
shorts worn under skirts for modesty
modesty
shirt used for modesty while swimming
self praise
said after praising yourself, showing pride with a hint of modesty
modesty humor
shows modesty or makes fun of oneself in a funny way
modesty
quality of being reserved or having a modest demeanor

Examples of modesty in a sentence

  • Modesty prevented him from boasting about his success.
  • Her modesty prevented her from boasting about her achievements.
  • Despite his success, he maintained his modesty.
  • Modesty is valued in many traditional cultures.
  • He admired her modesty during the interview.

View all translations of modesty

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:modestie, simplicité, ...
  2. German:Bescheidenheit, Zurückhaltung, ...
  3. Italian:modestia, umiltà, ...
  4. Spanish:modestia, pudor, ...
  5. Portuguese:modéstia, pudor, ...
  6. Chinese:谦逊, 矜持, ...
  7. Japanese:謙虚さ, 慎み, ...
  8. Arabic:تَوَاضُع, عفة, ...
  9. Hebrew:צְנִיעוּת, חוֹסֶר יְהִירוּת וְגַאֲוָה, ...
  10. Russian:скромность, целомудрие, ...
  11. Ukrainian:скромність, пристойність, ...
  12. Hindi:संयम, नम्रता, ...
Browse the dictionary entries starting with “m”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery