What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
selfeffacing
Example
She was so self-effacing that she never talked about her accomplishments. [self-effacing: adjective]
Example
He always takes a self-effacing approach to his work, giving credit to others. [self-effacing: noun]
modest
Example
She was very modest about her accomplishments, even though she had achieved a lot. [modest: adjective]
Example
He has a modest personality and doesn't like to draw attention to himself. [modest: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Modest is more commonly used than self-effacing in everyday language. Modest is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while self-effacing is less common and may be considered more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between selfeffacing and modest?
While self-effacing may be considered more formal or literary, modest is versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
