less than modest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than modest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is not humble or is overly confident about their abilities or achievements. Example: "His less than modest attitude about his promotion made it difficult for his colleagues to celebrate with him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

We have done research showing that women who are anything less than modest about their accomplishments are harmed interpersonally.

Harvard Business Review

This was the searing impact of Stockhausen, who died on Friday: he intended his music to speak - in his less than modest version of himself - to everyone in the universe (including the aliens; check out the vinyl cover of Donnerstag aus Licht).

The Guardian - Music

Mr Chevalier claimed that when the relationship broke down Lord Browne had agreed that "if needed, [he] would assist in the first year of me transitioning from living in multimillion pound homes around the world, flying in private jets, five-star hotels, £2,000 suits, and so on to a less than modest life in Canada".

The Guardian - Business

In acerbic legalese, the High Court judge ran through claims made by Chevalier about Browne's conduct during their four-year relationship, which ended last year, leaving him to adjust from 'living in multimillion-pound homes around the world, flying in private jets, five-star hotels, £2,000 suits and so on, to a less than modest life in Canada'.

The Guardian - Business

Unfortunately, to date achievements in this field have been less than modest.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Extracranial responses were documented in 14 patients in cohort A and one patient in cohort B. The less than modest clinical benefit observed in patients receiving steroids could be because steroids partly suppress the immune response that ipilimumab produces or those patients requiring glucocorticoids to control CNS symptoms are generally thought to represent a group with more aggressive disease.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Fashion Magazine No. 1," read a less-than-modest line on the cover.

The New York Times

Its less-than-modest name makes a bold, clear promise, right off the bat.

Forbes

He and his staff screen all applications to weed out those with less-than-modest requests, such as the pleas for diamond rings and the waitress who wanted breast implants.

Forbes

Remember, George W. Bush's original name for his Global War on Terror was to be the less-than-modest Operation Infinite Justice. .

Huffington Post

So for less than a modest grill, you can have the latest in outdoor cooking gear, and all the bragging rights that come with it.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's accomplishments, use "less than modest" to politely point out their lack of humility without being overly critical. For example: "His less than modest account of the project, glossing over the team's contribution, rubbed some colleagues the wrong way."

Common error

While "less than modest" is a useful phrase, avoid overuse of understatement in general. Too many phrases of this type can make your writing sound hesitant or insincere. Choose direct language when appropriate to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than modest" functions as an adjective phrase used to describe someone or something that lacks humility or is overly self-assured. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It modifies a noun, indicating a quality of immodesty or a lack of restraint in expressing one's accomplishments.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less than modest" is a grammatically sound and usable adjective phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, employed to describe a lack of humility or an excess of self-confidence. While not extremely common, it finds its place in a variety of contexts, particularly news, science, and formal business settings. The phrase serves as a subtle way to critique behavior, avoiding directness by employing understatement. Consider alternatives like "somewhat arrogant" or "not entirely humble" for nuanced expressions. While a useful phrase, do not overuse understatement in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat immodest

A direct synonym, maintaining a similar tone and meaning.

not entirely humble

Directly addresses the lack of humility, maintaining a similar level of formality.

not particularly unassuming

Highlights a lack of the quality of being modest and reserved.

slightly boastful

Specifies the behavior as boastful, indicating an inclination to brag about oneself.

somewhat arrogant

Shifts the focus to the characteristic of arrogance, implying a degree of excessive pride.

borderline cocky

Implies a strong sense of self-confidence that approaches arrogance.

a touch conceited

Emphasizes self-importance, suggesting a mild form of vanity.

rather self-assured

Focuses on confidence, but hints that it may be excessive.

a bit presumptuous

Indicates an overstepping of boundaries due to overconfidence.

displaying hubris

Suggests excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to downfall.

FAQs

How can I use "less than modest" in a sentence?

You can use "less than modest" to describe someone's behavior or attitude when they are not showing enough humility, as in, "His "less than modest" claims about his contributions surprised everyone."

What's a more formal way to say "less than modest"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "somewhat arrogant" or "not entirely humble" to convey a similar meaning with slightly more distance.

Is it better to use "immodest" or "less than modest"?

Both "immodest" and "less than modest" can be used, but "less than modest" is a more indirect way of saying someone is not humble. "Immodest" is more direct and could be perceived as slightly stronger.

What's the difference between "less than modest" and "confident"?

"Confident" describes a belief in one's abilities, while "less than modest" suggests that someone is overly assertive or boastful about their abilities, potentially to an inappropriate degree. It implies a lack of humility that "confident" doesn't necessarily convey.