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unassuming

unassuming

20 5.8
A person or thing that is not proud and not showy
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ/
translation icon : modesto
  • His face is placid, boyish, unassuming, dark eyes cast softly downward.
  • quiet and unassuming
  • unassuming man

Because your dad was unassuming and steady and wise.

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Examples

  • One of the main reasons she'd picked him was because he seemed so unassuming.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Nothing could have surprised me more than this unassuming man shaking my hand.

  • The older one, however, was worth watching; just an unassuming study in systems analysis.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • So I got a knock on the door one day and it's this, you know, unassuming guy.

  • An initially unassuming bull could carry a strong message in a particular local context.

    Academic text (2018)
  • His paintings were quiet, private and unassuming secular works that contain stories of real human relationships.

  • The quiet and unassuming nature of these Apache students is characterized by periods of quiet thinking.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Please, we need someone who's level-headed, empathetic - and unassuming.

  • To his colleagues, he was "a slender, dark-complexioned man of unassuming manner" and "sweet disposition."

    Blog text (21)
  • The unassuming teacher always dressed simply, letting her knowledge shine instead of her appearance.

Synonyms

humble
vsunassuming
222 2.8

Not proud and not thinking you are better than others

focuses more on outward low key behaviour and plain appearance
modest
vsunassuming
81 2.7

Not thinking you are better than others and not boasting

focuses on outward low-key manner and plain appearance rather than belief
bashful
vsunassuming
18 3.2

Shy and easily embarrassed, avoiding attention

is about a quiet, low-profile manner rather than primary shyness
demure
vsunassuming
14 7.4

Being quiet, modest, and often shy

is modest without implying shyness or playful affect
unpretentious
vsunassuming
9 5.1

Simple and honest in style and not trying to impress people

is more about quiet, low-profile manner rather than style
self-effacing
vsunassuming
7 7.4

Not wanting attention and being modest

is broader, covering simple appearance as well as not seeking notice
unostentatious
vsunassuming
1 7.8

Simple and modest in style and not trying to attract attention

is broader, covering quiet behaviour as well as plain appearance
unflashy
vsunassuming
1 4.4

Simple in style and not trying to attract attention

includes that plainness but stresses a low-profile personal manner
unpretending
vsunassuming
6.8

Simple and modest in style or behaviour

is more about a humble personal manner than just plain looks
unshowy
vsunassuming
4.5

Looks modest and simple and does not attract attention

adds the idea of a modest personal manner rather than only looks
uninflated
vsunassuming
4.4

Simple in style and not exaggerated

is about modest personal manner rather than merely plain presentation
unpompous
vsunassuming
7.1

Not trying to seem important or very formal

is more about genuine low-key behaviour and plain appearance
retiring
vsunassuming
6.7

A shy, quiet person who does not like attention

shares low visibility but focuses more on modest plain manner

Antonyms

260 4.5

Behaving as if you are more important or better than other people

pretentious
  • Offensive
74 7.3

Trying to seem more important or clever than you really are

How Modest

humble
222 2.8
unassuming
20 5.8
self-assured
11 4.1
boastful
7 3.7

Surface Forms

unassuming positive
unassumingly positive

Morphology

unassuming = assuming (semi-transparent) = un + assume + ing

The prefix 'un-' negates the adjective 'assuming', but the specific meaning of modesty is not directly inferred.

Etymology

Unassuming comes from un- meaning 'not' and assume meaning 'to take on' or 'to put on' a role or clothes. So, an unassuming person does not 'put on' a proud or showy manner but stays modest and humble.