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
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Recent Examples of deferential
The surroundings are deferential, completed by a group of friends enjoying conversation encouraged by physical comfort and a visual calm.
—
Joseph Giovannini, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
The new additions are thoughtful and deferential, keeping the original intact to a great degree.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
In so doing, the courts largely cast aside a century of jurisprudence in which courts were deferential to the Commissioners’ role as guardians of their leagues.
—Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Joseph Giovannini, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
The new additions are thoughtful and deferential, keeping the original intact to a great degree.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
In so doing, the courts largely cast aside a century of jurisprudence in which courts were deferential to the Commissioners’ role as guardians of their leagues.
—Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deferential
Adjective
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The atmosphere in the State Dining Room remained respectful, but resistance to the president’s proposal lingered.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Chad Peipho, another acquaintance of Knowlton, described him as a respectful, nice kid.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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And many advocates are promoting a vision of public health that’s less dependent on mandates and appeals to authority, and more deferent to individuals’ beliefs.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
4 Aug. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Deferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deferential. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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