comparatively modest

USAGE SUMMARY

"comparatively modest" is a phrase that can be used in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe something that is not as large or significant as something else when compared to it. For example, "He had a comparatively modest inheritance, but he was able to use it to buy a small apartment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Armando and his sister live comparatively modest homes.

The Guardian - Film

It had been a comparatively modest affair for this neighborhood.

The New York Times

The Italian involvement in this process appears comparatively modest.

Energy Policy

Leonardo DiCaprio has a comparatively modest 5.5 million followers there.

The New York Times

It would save us from some environmental woes, at comparatively modest sacrifice.

Harvard University

The effects on short pauses and elongation were comparatively modest, however.

Stanford University

The next year, 2013, saw a comparatively modest loss of just over 100 billion tons.

The Washington Post

The charges he now faces appear milder, involving a comparatively modest amount of money, experts said.

The Washington Post

These gains dramatically exceed the consequential but comparatively modest adverse impact on U.S. manufacturing workers.

MIT Technology Review

The Australians made 236: Arthur Morris scored 112, and Don Bradman a comparatively modest 27.

The Guardian - Sport

But in the early years of rap, their tastes were comparatively modest.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "comparatively modest", ensure you provide a clear point of comparison to highlight the difference in scale or significance. This will help your audience understand the relative nature of the modesty you are describing.

Common error

Avoid using "comparatively modest" when the difference is negligible. This can create a misleading impression and weaken your argument. Make sure that you always point out the reason why it's modest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comparatively modest" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically describing a noun by indicating that it is less significant, smaller, or of lower value when contrasted with something else. As Ludwig AI shows, it is widely used across diverse domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "comparatively modest" is a common adjectival modifier used to describe something as being less significant or smaller than another. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. When using "comparatively modest", ensure a clear comparison is made. Alternatives like "relatively small" or "somewhat limited" can be used, though the best choice depends on the specific nuance intended. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing styles, from formal reports to general news articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proportionally modest

Emphasizes the relative size or impact based on a specific proportion.

slightly modest

Indicates a small degree of modesty or smallness.

pretty modest

Informal way of saying something is reasonably modest.

quite modest

Similar to 'pretty modest' but potentially slightly more formal.

enough modest

Suggests a sufficient level of modesty for a particular situation.

rather modest

A more formal and emphatic way of saying 'quite modest'.

fairly modest

Indicates a moderate degree of modesty.

comparatively meager

Highlights the limited or deficient quality in comparison.

sufficiently modest

Focuses on the adequacy of the modesty for a given purpose.

comparatively unassuming

Shifts focus to the lack of pretension or showiness.

FAQs

How to use "comparatively modest" in a sentence?

Use "comparatively modest" to describe something that is less significant when compared to something else. For example, "The company's profits were "comparatively modest" this quarter compared to last year's.".

What can I say instead of "comparatively modest"?

You can use alternatives like "relatively small", "somewhat limited", or "moderately humble" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "comparatively modest" or "relatively modest"?

Both "comparatively modest" and "relatively modest" are correct. The choice between them depends on the specific nuance you want to convey, but they are largely interchangeable.

What's the difference between "comparatively modest" and "comparatively meager"?

"Comparatively modest" suggests something is smaller or less significant than something else. "Comparatively meager" implies something is deficient or inadequate in comparison. The key difference is the implication of deficiency with "meager".