immodest

/ɪˈmɒdɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈmɑːdɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)i(m)-ˈmä-dəst/ (ame, mw)

immodest — adjective

  • immodestpositive
  • more immodestcomparative
  • most immodestsuperlative

1. thinking and saying out loud that your own talent, work, or importance is greate

1.形容詞C1
釋義

thinking and saying out loud that your own talent, work, or importance is greater than it really is, in a way that other people find off-putting.

例句

It would be immodest of me to claim I wrote the report alone.

common frame: it would be immodest of [person] to [claim]

Matthew sounded immodest when he listed every prize he had ever won.

predicative: sound/seem + immodest

同義詞
  • boastful

    more common in everyday speech; immodest is a notch more formal

  • conceited

    stronger — the person genuinely thinks they are superior, not just talks that way

  • vain

    more about appearance or charm than achievements

  • arrogant

    implies looking down on others, not just self-praise

反義詞
  • modest

    the direct opposite — downplaying one's own achievements

  • humble

    broader, includes humility about status, not only achievements

用法筆記

Often appears in self-deprecating hedge phrases ('I don't want to be immodest, but…') where the speaker is about to boast anyway. Subject is usually a person, a claim, or a remark.

常見錯誤

❌He was immodest about his car.
✅He boasted about his car.
💡'immodest' describes the boasting style itself; you don't say someone is immodest 'about' a thing.
❌an immodest house' (meaning expensive).
✅an ostentatious house.
💡'immodest' describes self-praising speech or behaviour, not objects.

2. showing parts of the body, especially in clothing or behaviour, in a way that th

2.形容詞C1
釋義

showing parts of the body, especially in clothing or behaviour, in a way that the speaker's culture or community treats as crossing a line of decency.

例句

Élise was told her sleeveless dress would be considered immodest at the temple.

passive: be considered/deemed + immodest

Sana refused to wear the swimsuit because she thought it looked immodest on the beach.

predicative: look/seem + immodest

同義詞
  • revealing

    neutral — describes the clothing without moral judgement

  • indecent

    stronger; implies the speaker finds it shocking or offensive

  • risqué

    playfully bold; less harsh than immodest

反義詞
  • modest

    covers the body to a degree the culture treats as proper

  • demure

    shy or reserved in dress and manner

用法筆記

Almost always passes a judgement from a specific viewpoint (a religion, a generation, a setting). Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about clothing or bodily display, not self-praise.

常見錯誤

❌an immodest body
✅a revealing outfit' or 'immodest dress.
💡the body itself isn't immodest; what is shown or worn is.
❌She felt immodest from the heat.
✅She felt embarrassed by how much skin was showing.
💡'immodest' is a social judgement, not a personal feeling.