unassuming

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un·as·sum·ing

(ŭn′ə-so͞o′mĭng)

adj.

Exhibiting no pretensions, boastfulness, or ostentation; modest.

un′as·sum′ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

unassuming

(ˌʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ)

adj

modest or unpretentious

ˌunasˈsumingly adv

ˌunasˈsumingness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

un•as•sum•ing

(ˌʌn əˈsu mɪŋ)

adj.

modest; unpretentious.

[1720–30]

un`as•sum′ing•ly, adv.

un`as•sum′ing•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.

unassuming - not arrogant or presuming; "unassuming to a fault, skeptical about the value of his work"; "a shy retiring girl"

retiring

modest - marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself; "a modest apartment"; "too modest to wear his medals"

unassuming

adjective modest, quiet, humble, meek, simple, reserved, retiring, unpretentious, unobtrusive, self-effacing, diffident, unassertive, unostentatious She has a gentle, unassuming manner.
pretentious, audacious, conceited, ostentatious, presumptuous, assuming, overconfident

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

unassuming

adjective

Not elaborate or showy, as in appearance or style:

modest, plain, simple, unostentatious, unpretentious.

Translations

modeste

modesto

unassuming

[ˈʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ] ADJ → modesto, sin pretensiones

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

unassuming

[ˌʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ] adj → sans prétention

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

unassuming

adj → bescheiden

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

unassuming

[ˌʌnəˈsjuːmɪŋ] adj → modesto/a, senza pretese

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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References in classic literature ?

The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation-- a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street.

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He was a Jew named Abraham, a blond, rather stout young man, shy and very unassuming; but he had remarkable gifts.

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At the same time he feels his mastery, and is abjectly grateful to him in his own simple love of the good for his patronage of the unassuming virtues.

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It takes two noble Earls and a Viscount, combined, to inform Nicodemus Boffin, Esquire, in an equally flattering manner, that an estimable lady in the West of England has offered to present a purse containing twenty pounds, to the Society for Granting Annuities to Unassuming Members of the Middle Classes, if twenty individuals will previously present purses of one hundred pounds each.

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They had a low and unassuming aspect from this upland, though as approached on the other side from Blackmoor in her childhood they were as lofty bastions against the sky.

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His flamboyance was extinguished; and in neat, commonplace, shabby clothes he hurried, a subdued, unassuming little man, through the departments as though anxious to escape notice.

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Now, when the income was shrunk to $20, the letters of "Dillingham" looked blurred, as though they were thinking seriously of contracting to a modest and unassuming D.

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de Barral was an equable, unassuming woman, at that time with a fund of simple gaiety, and with no ambitions; but, woman-like, she longed for change and for something interesting to happen now and then.

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Father Mapple rose, and in a mild voice of unassuming authority ordered the scattered people to condense.

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The housekeeper -- dressed to perfection, as usual, in a quiet, lavender-colored summer gown, a black mantilla, an unassuming straw bonnet, and a crisp blue veil -- escorted her invalid master with the tenderest attention; sometimes directing his notice respectfully to the various objects of the sea view; sometimes bending her head in graceful acknowledgment of the courtesy of passing strangers on the Parade, who stepped aside to let the invalid pass by.

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To this the page replied, "As to Senor Sancho Panza's being a governor there is no doubt whatever; but whether it is an island or not that he governs, with that I have nothing to do; suffice it that it is a town of more than a thousand inhabitants; with regard to the acorns I may tell you my lady the duchess is so unpretending and unassuming that, not to speak of sending to beg for acorns from a peasant woman, she has been known to send to ask for the loan of a comb from one of her neighbours; for I would have your worships know that the ladies of Aragon, though they are just as illustrious, are not so punctilious and haughty as the Castilian ladies; they treat people with greater familiarity."

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The guests found her sweet and unassuming, laughing, vivacious and a never exhausted storehouse of quaint and interesting jungle lore.