modesty
Unpretentious self-regard
Modesty is the quality of being unassuming about one's abilities or achievements—not boasting or drawing attention to oneself: She accepted the award with characteristic modesty.
The word also refers to propriety in dress and behavior, particularly regarding sexual matters: Victorian standards of modesty required covering the ankles.
A modest person avoids excess in self-presentation.
Control over impulses
- decencyMoral appropriateness in behavior
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
- unpretentiousnessAbsence of showiness
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
simplicity · reserve · self-effacement · discretion · temperance · chastity · dignity · grace
Downplaying one's importance
- unpretentiousnessAbsence of showiness
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- demurenessModest, reserved quality
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
down-to-earth · lowliness · unassuming · self-deprecation · egolessness · groundedness · modestness
Habitual verbal restraint
- shynessTendency toward social timidity
- bashfulnessTimid self-consciousness
- timidityFearful lack of courage
- quietnessLack of sound
restraint · discretion · unobtrusiveness · introversion · coyness · aloofness · self-consciousness · inhibition
Correctness of conduct
- decorumFitting social conduct
- seemlinessAppropriate conduct quality
- appropriatenessQuality of being suitable
- respectabilityMoral and social worthiness
dignity · decorousness · correctness · good taste · demureness · circumspection
Unadorned, straightforward quality
- unadornedLacking decoration or ornament
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
spartan · understated · no-frills · unfussy · unembellished · unshowy · unornamented · subdued
Rules of polite conduct
- decorumFitting social conduct
- mannersCustoms of polite conduct
- civilityFormal politeness in conduct
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
respectability · appropriateness · comportment · refinement · tact · courtesy · protocol · convention
Uncontaminated quality
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- virginityAbsence of carnal experience
- celibacyAbstaining from intimate relations
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
continence · innocence · maidenhood · sexual restraint · moral purity · virtuousness · temperance · self-denial
Muslim woman's headscarf
Sincere religious devotion
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- purityUncontaminated quality
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
sanctity · holiness · godliness · reverence · faith · obedience · submission · spirituality
Diminishing perceived significance
- minimizationMaking as small as possible
- low-keyRestrained and understated
- soft-pedalingUnderstating something deliberately
- de-emphasisReduction in importance
restraint · subtlety · underplay · toning down · playing down · litotes · meiosis
Extent of inclusion
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- hijabMuslim woman's headscarf
- niqabVeil concealing the face
- headscarfCloth worn over hair
loose-fitting · high neckline · long sleeves · full-length · veil · wimple · dupatta · mantilla
restraint
Control over impulses
- decencyMoral appropriateness in behavior
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
- unpretentiousnessAbsence of showiness
meekness · simplicity · reserve · self-effacement · discretion · temperance · chastity · dignity · grace · demureness
self-effacement
Downplaying one's importance
- unpretentiousnessAbsence of showiness
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- demurenessModest, reserved quality
diffidence · down-to-earth · lowliness · unassuming · self-deprecation · egolessness · groundedness · modestness
reticence
Habitual verbal restraint
- shynessTendency toward social timidity
- bashfulnessTimid self-consciousness
- timidityFearful lack of courage
quietness · restraint · discretion · unobtrusiveness · introversion · coyness · aloofness · self-consciousness · inhibition · unassertiveness
propriety
Correctness of conduct
- decorumFitting social conduct
- seemlinessAppropriate conduct quality
- appropriatenessQuality of being suitable
respectability · dignity · decorousness · correctness · good taste · demureness · circumspection
plainness
Unadorned, straightforward quality
- unadornedLacking decoration or ornament
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
unpretentious · spartan · understated · no-frills · unfussy · unembellished · unshowy · unornamented · subdued · basic
etiquette
Rules of polite conduct
politeness · respectability · appropriateness · comportment · refinement · tact · courtesy · protocol · convention · propriety
purity
Uncontaminated quality
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- virginityAbsence of carnal experience
- celibacyAbstaining from intimate relations
abstinence · continence · innocence · maidenhood · sexual restraint · moral purity · virtuousness · temperance · self-denial
hijab
Muslim woman's headscarf
piety
Sincere religious devotion
righteousness · sanctity · holiness · godliness · reverence · faith · obedience · submission · spirituality · morality
downplaying
Diminishing perceived significance
- minimizationMaking as small as possible
- low-keyRestrained and understated
- soft-pedalingUnderstating something deliberately
de-emphasis · restraint · subtlety · underplay · toning down · playing down · litotes · meiosis
coverage
Extent of inclusion
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- hijabMuslim woman's headscarf
- niqabVeil concealing the face
headscarf · loose-fitting · high neckline · long sleeves · full-length · veil · wimple · dupatta · mantilla · covered shoulders
- valuesvalue, honesty, worth, fairness, morals
- moral virtuesvirtues, honesty, righteousness, integrity, virtue
- proprietydecorum, decency, propriety, correctness, suitability
- refinementrefinement, elegance, sophistication, polish, taste
- virtuesintegrity, honesty, justice, courage, fairness
- Christian virtuesvirtues, cardinal virtues, theological virtues, faithfulness, chastity
modestyboldness
Fearless readiness to act
audacity · forwardness · brashness · shamelessness · brazenness
modestyimmodesty
Absence of restraint or humility
shamelessness · indecency · exhibitionism · brazenness · exposure
- false modestyPretend self-deprecation
- modest meansLimited financial resources
- modest proposalDeliberately understated radical idea
- modesty lawsRegulations mandating body coverage
- modest fashionClothing emphasizing coverage
- modest wearClothing emphasizing coverage