deferential
adjective
def·er·en·tial
ˌde-fə-ˈren-chəl 
: showing or expressing respect and high regard due a superior or an elder : showing or expressing deference
listened with deferential attention to his grandfather
deferential to the judge's decision
Examples of deferential in a Sentence
the man had the deferential attitude of someone who had been a servant his entire life
Recent Examples on the Web
As with his new podcast, Mr. Newsom was deferential, in awe of the ideas explained by his guest.
—
Laurel Rosenhall, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
In the 7-2 majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch upheld the 2022 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule by applying an incredibly deferential standard.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
That deferential standard had been observed since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in NCAA v. Board of Regents (1984), a case that concerned NCAA rules restricting schools’ autonomy to broadcast football games on national TV networks.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The Senate unanimously confirmed Haugh to his post in December 2023, and Republicans and Democrats alike were broadly deferential to him during his marathon testimony last month before the House and Senate intelligence committees.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
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Laurel Rosenhall, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
In the 7-2 majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch upheld the 2022 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule by applying an incredibly deferential standard.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
That deferential standard had been observed since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in NCAA v. Board of Regents (1984), a case that concerned NCAA rules restricting schools’ autonomy to broadcast football games on national TV networks.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The Senate unanimously confirmed Haugh to his post in December 2023, and Republicans and Democrats alike were broadly deferential to him during his marathon testimony last month before the House and Senate intelligence committees.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Cite this Entry
“Deferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deferential. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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Medical Definition
deferential
adjective
def·er·en·tial
ˌdef-ə-ˈren-chəl
: deferent
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