respectful
adjective
re·spect·ful
ri-ˈspekt-fəl 
: marked by or showing respect or deference
respectfulness
noun
Examples of respectful in a Sentence
the children were remarkably respectful while in the president's office
Recent Examples on the Web
So our approach has to be better and more respectful.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
But fans of schoolyard intrigue (and thus literary scandal) will be disappointed by the biography’s respectful sense of duty toward its subject.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
But fans of schoolyard intrigue (and thus literary scandal) will be disappointed by the biography’s respectful sense of duty toward its subject.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2026
During the roughly three months of filming on the island, a local islander was on set every day to make sure the production took care to preserve the island and be respectful of the local culture and history.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
But fans of schoolyard intrigue (and thus literary scandal) will be disappointed by the biography’s respectful sense of duty toward its subject.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
But fans of schoolyard intrigue (and thus literary scandal) will be disappointed by the biography’s respectful sense of duty toward its subject.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2026
During the roughly three months of filming on the island, a local islander was on set every day to make sure the production took care to preserve the island and be respectful of the local culture and history.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Cite this Entry
“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respectful. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
respectful
adjective
re·spect·ful
ri-ˈspekt-fəl
: marked by or showing respect
a respectful manner
respectful of others
respectfulness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
