as in respectful
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status
the man had the deferential attitude of someone who had been a servant his entire life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of deferential
The meeting never devolved into the outburst that the public saw in Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was berated by the U.S. president and his team for not being sufficiently deferential.
—
Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025
Part of the problem might have to do with her conversational approach—tentative, deferential, professional.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
Judges tend to be highly deferential to the privacy claims raised by these educational institutions.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
Newsom’s deferential tone toward far-right guests like Charlie Kirk and Michael Savage—including agreeing with Kirk’s stance on banning transgender athletes from women’s sports—has alienated progressive allies and LGBTQ+ advocates, undermining his reputation as a champion of LGBTQ+ rights[1][7][9].
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025
Part of the problem might have to do with her conversational approach—tentative, deferential, professional.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
Judges tend to be highly deferential to the privacy claims raised by these educational institutions.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
Newsom’s deferential tone toward far-right guests like Charlie Kirk and Michael Savage—including agreeing with Kirk’s stance on banning transgender athletes from women’s sports—has alienated progressive allies and LGBTQ+ advocates, undermining his reputation as a champion of LGBTQ+ rights[1][7][9].
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deferential
Adjective
-
Some include strengthening academic and residential life and including more Jewish student representation; supporting belonging and promoting respectful dialogue; and updating campus use rules and other procedures.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
-
Her writing resonated with me as the father of a respectful, intelligent kid who may be stereotyped while wearing a black hoodie.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Ptolemaic model depicted planets moving around Earth in a big circle, known as a deferent, then going around a smaller circle while retrograding, called an epicycle.—
Carlie Procell,
USA TODAY,
25 Nov. 2024
-
The Ptolemaic model depicted planets moving around Earth in a big circle, known as a deferent, then going around a smaller circle while retrograding, called an epicycle.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Deferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deferential. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share