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
Chief Justice Roberts 'wrong,' courts should be 'deferential' The Trump administration's mass deportation efforts have repeatedly hit legal challenges.
—
Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The appeals court applied the most deferential level of review, rational basis, and found that the requirement satisfied it.
—June 27, CBS News, 27 June 2025
The meeting never devolved into the outburst that the public saw in Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was berated by the U.S. president and his team for not being sufficiently deferential.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
There were Hmong women with a certain style that never hit the pop culture radar: Tough, streetwise, cocksure and confident, deeply devoted to their families, friends and culture, but not the least bit demure or deferential.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
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Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
The appeals court applied the most deferential level of review, rational basis, and found that the requirement satisfied it.
—June 27, CBS News, 27 June 2025
The meeting never devolved into the outburst that the public saw in Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was berated by the U.S. president and his team for not being sufficiently deferential.
—Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
There were Hmong women with a certain style that never hit the pop culture radar: Tough, streetwise, cocksure and confident, deeply devoted to their families, friends and culture, but not the least bit demure or deferential.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 2 June 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 15 Jul. 2025.
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Medical Definition
deferential
adjective
def·er·en·tial
ˌdef-ə-ˈren-chəl
: deferent
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