Modest

adj.calm, thoughtfulwarm

Meaning 1

Not inclined to boast or claim more importance than is deserved.

Reach for it when praising restrained self-presentation without asking someone to hide real achievement

She remained modest while clearly explaining her part in the discovery.

playful
down-to-earth
when approachable lack of pretension deserves informal praise
not when The idiom concerns manner and can stereotype polished people as less genuine.
warm
humble
when lack of self-importance is the central praise
not when Humble can reward self-erasure or imply low status.
warm
unassuming
when someone does not demand notice or impose on others
not when Unassuming describes presentation and may hide substantial confidence.
professional
reserved
when expression or social manner is restrained
not when Reserve may come from privacy or discomfort rather than modesty.
formal
self-effacing
when someone deliberately minimizes personal credit
not when Self-effacement can be unhealthy or misleading when accurate ownership matters.

Limited in size, amount, ambition, or display.

Reach for it when describing a small but real scale without dismissing its value

A modest improvement removed the longest delay in the process.

everyday
small
when physical size or amount should be direct
not when Small is neutral and can understate meaningful effect.
warm
unpretentious
when style or surroundings avoid showy display
not when Unpretentious judges social signaling, not actual size or cost.
professional
limited
when scope or amount has a clear boundary
not when Limited can sound negative and does not imply adequacy.
professional
moderate
when amount sits between low and high extremes
not when Moderate may be larger than modest and lacks the sense of deliberate simplicity.
formal
restrained
when decoration, spending, or expression is deliberately controlled
not when Restrained can feel severe and may reflect constraint rather than choice.

modest person
The modest person still accepted credit for the work she had led.
modest amount
A modest amount of funding covered the essential repairs.
modest improvement
The modest improvement saved several minutes on every visit.
relatively modest
The building's footprint is relatively modest for its capacity.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.