Modesty is a noun that can mean being unassumingnot showing off; modest and not trying to seem important and not vain, or it can mean behaving with proprietyproper behavior that follows social rules and good manners and reserveself-restraint in speech or behavior; not expressing much openly. The first sense is the more common everyday use.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈmɑdɪsti/
Easy pronunciation: MOD-uh-stee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: MOD.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Modesty Meaning
being humble and not bragging about yourself
Part of speech: noun
Definition: freedom from vanity or conceit
Example: She accepted the award with modesty and thanked her team.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- modestness — Direct dictionary synonym for the humility sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Modesty
Meaning 2
quiet, proper behavior without being too open or casual
Part of speech: noun
Definition: formality and propriety of manner
Example: His modesty in public made him seem reserved and polite.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- reserve — Works for the restraint/propriety sense, not the humility sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Modesty Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- modestness
formality and propriety of manner
- reserve
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using modesty to mean only shyness. It can involve reserve, but its main sense is about not being vain or conceited.
- Mixing up modesty with modest. Modest is an adjective; modesty is the noun.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does modesty mean?
Modesty usually means being humble and not vain. It can also mean behaving with propriety and reserve.
What is a synonym for modesty?
A close synonym is modestness. In the sense of restrained, proper behavior, reserve can also work.
Is modesty the same as shyness?
Not exactly. Shyness is about feeling nervous or uncomfortable, while modesty is more about humility or restrained behavior.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.