Ask Difference

Modest vs. Shy — What's the Difference?

Modest vs. Shy — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Modest and Shy

ADVERTISEMENT

Compare with Definitions

Modest

Modest may refer to:

Shy

Nervous or timid in the company of other people
I was pretty shy at school
A shy smile

Modest

Unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements
He was a very modest man, refusing to take any credit for the enterprise

Shy

Less than; short of
The shares are 29p shy of their flotation price

Modest

(of an amount, rate, or level) relatively moderate, limited, or small
Drink modest amounts of alcohol
Employment growth was relatively modest
ADVERTISEMENT

Shy

(of a plant) not bearing flowers or fruit well or prolifically.

Modest

(of a woman) dressing or behaving so as to avoid impropriety or indecency, especially to avoid attracting sexual attention
The modest women wear long-sleeved dresses and all but cover their faces

Shy

(especially of a horse) start suddenly aside in fright at an object, noise, or movement
Their horses shied at the unfamiliar sight

Modest

Having or showing a moderate estimation of one's own abilities, accomplishments, or value
Was too modest to talk about his success.

Shy

Fling or throw (something) at a target
He tore the spectacles off and shied them at her

Modest

Having or proceeding from a disinclination to call attention to oneself; retiring or diffident
A quiet, modest demeanor.

Shy

A sudden startled movement, especially of a frightened horse.

Modest

Observing conventional proprieties in speech, behavior, or dress, especially in the avoidance of arousing sexual interest.

Shy

An act of flinging or throwing something at a target.

Modest

Free from showiness or ostentation; unpretentious
A house with modest furnishings.

Shy

Easily startled; timid
A shy deer.

Modest

Moderate or limited in size, quantity, or range; not extreme
A modest price.
A newspaper with a modest circulation.

Shy

Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved
A shy student who stayed in the back of the room.

Modest

Not bragging or boasting about oneself or one's achievements; unpretentious, humble.

Shy

Characterized by reserve or diffidence
A shy glance.

Modest

Small, moderate in size.
He earns a modest amount of money.
Her latest novel was a modest success.

Shy

Distrustful; wary
Shy of strangers.

Modest

Pure and delicate from a sense of propriety.
Modest thoughts or language

Shy

Not having a sufficient or specified amount, as of money
Was shy $100 on his rent.
Was two victories shy of the school record.

Modest

(especially of behaviour or clothing) Intending to avoid the encouraging of sexual attraction in others.

Shy

To move suddenly or draw back, as if startled or afraid
The horse shied at the loud sound.

Modest

Restraining within due limits of propriety; not forward, bold, boastful, or presumptious; rather retiring than pushing one's self forward; not obstructive; as, a modest youth; a modest man.

Shy

To avoid engaging in, treating, or discussing something
"a film adaptation that would not shy away from the novel's controversial themes" (Scot French).

Modest

Observing the proprieties of the sex; not unwomanly in act or bearing; free from undue familiarity, indecency, or lewdness; decent in speech and demeanor; - said of a woman.
Mrs. Ford, the honest woman, the modest wife.
The blushing beauties of a modest maid.

Shy

To throw (something) with a swift motion; fling.

Modest

Evincing modestly in the actor, author, or speaker; not showing presumption; not excessive or extreme; moderate; as, a modest request; modest joy.

Shy

To throw something with a swift motion.

Modest

Marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself;
A modest apartment
Too modest to wear his medals

Shy

A sudden movement, as from fright; a start.

Modest

Not large but sufficient in size or amount;
A modest salary
Modest inflation
Helped in my own small way

Shy

A quick throw; a fling.

Modest

Free from pomp or affectation;
Comfortable but modest cottages
A simple rectangular brick building
A simple man with simple tastes

Shy

(Informal) A gibe; a sneer.

Modest

Not offensive to sexual mores in conduct or appearance

Shy

(Informal) An attempt; a try.

Modest

Low or inferior in station or quality;
A humble cottage
A lowly parish priest
A modest man of the people
Small beginnings

Shy

Easily frightened; timid.

Modest

Humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness;
Meek and self-effacing

Shy

Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.
He is very shy with strangers.

Modest

Limited in size or scope;
A small business
A newspaper with a modest circulation
Small-scale plans
A pocket-size country

Shy

Cautious; wary; suspicious.

Modest

Free from ostentation or pretension;
The restrained elegance of the room

Shy

(informal) Short, insufficient or less than.
By our count your shipment came up two shy of the bill of lading amount.
It is just shy of a mile from here to their house.

Shy

Embarrassed.

Shy

(intransitive) To avoid due to caution, embarrassment or timidness.
I shy away from investment opportunities I don't understand.

Shy

(intransitive) To jump back in fear.
The horse shied away from the rider, which startled him so much he shied away from the horse.

Shy

(transitive) To throw sideways with a jerk; to fling.
To shy a stone
Shy a slipper

Shy

(Scottish) (transitive) or (intransitive) To throw a ball with two hands above the head, especially when it has crossed the side lines in a football (soccer) match. To hit the ball back into play from the sidelines in a shinty match.

Shy

An act of throwing.

Shy

A place for throwing.
Coconut shy

Shy

A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

Shy

In the Eton College wall game, a point scored by lifting the ball against the wall in the calx.

Shy

(Scottish) In soccer, a throw-in from the sidelines, using two hands above the head. In shinty, the act of tossing the ball above the head and hitting it with the shaft of the caman to bring it back into play after it has been hit out of the field.

Shy

Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird.
The horses of the army . . . were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting.

Shy

Reserved; coy; disinclined to familiar approach.
What makes you so shy, my good friend? There's nobody loves you better than I.
The embarrassed look of shy distressAnd maidenly shamefacedness.

Shy

Cautious; wary; suspicious.
I am very shy of using corrosive liquors in the preparation of medicines.
Princes are, by wisdom of state, somewhat shy of thier successors.

Shy

Inadequately supplied; short; lacking; as, the team is shy two players.

Shy

Owing money to the pot; - in cases where an opponent's bet has exceeded a player's available stake or chips, but the player chooses to continue playing the hand before adding the required bet to the pot.

Shy

To start suddenly aside through fright or suspicion; - said especially of horses.

Shy

To throw sidewise with a jerk; to fling; as, to shy a stone; to shy a slipper.

Shy

A sudden start aside, as by a horse.

Shy

A side throw; a throw; a fling.
If Lord Brougham gets a stone in his hand, he must, it seems, have a shy at somebody.

Shy

A quick throw;
He gave the ball a shy to the first baseman

Shy

Start suddenly, as from fight

Shy

Throw quickly

Shy

Lacking self-confidence;
Stood in the doorway diffident and abashed
Problems that call for bold not timid responses
A very unsure young man

Shy

Easily startled or frightened

Shy

Short;
Eleven is one shy of a dozen

Shy

Wary and distrustful; disposed to avoid persons or things;
Shy of strangers

Share Your Discovery

Share via Social Media
Embed This Content
Embed Code
Share Directly via Messenger
Link
Previous Comparison
Warlock vs. Shaman
Next Comparison
Genius vs. Polymath

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms