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Belittle vs Modest - What's the difference?

belittle | modest |

As a verb belittle

is to knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is.

As an adjective modest is

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

belittle

English

Verb

(belittl)
  • To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is.
  • * {{quote-book, year=2006
    • , author=Mark Steyn , title=America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It , chapter=9 , isbn=0895260786 , page=201 , passage=Under the rules as understood by the New York Times'', the West is free to mock and belittle''' its Judeo-Christian inheritance, and, likewise, the Muslim world is free to mock and ' belittle the West's Judeo-Christian inheritance.}}

    Related terms

    * belittlement

    See also

    * disparage * denigrate * vilipend

    modest

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Not bragging or boasting about oneself or one's achievements, unpretentious, humble.
  • Small, moderate in size.
    • He earns a modest amount of money.
    Her latest novel was a modest success.
  • (especially of behaviour or clothing) Avoiding being sexually suggestive.

    • Synonyms

    * See also * See also * See also

    Antonyms

    * immodest

    Derived terms

    * modest proposal * modesty