respectful

adjective

re·​spect·​ful ri-ˈspekt-fəl How to pronounce respectful (audio)
Synonyms of respectfulnext
: marked by or showing respect or deference
respectfully adverb
respectfulness noun

Examples of respectful in a Sentence

the children were remarkably respectful while in the president's office
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Trump’s own position toward the pope seemed to be one of respectful ambivalence. Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026 The company has made an conscious effort to be seen as respectful of creative rights and copyright concerns amid the grave fears that AI will be a Hollywood jobs killer. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026 Your 2nd house also supports practical purchases, which is a great reminder to make durable, budget-respectful choices over flashy upgrades. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026 With her friend Danielle Siggerud, an architect based in Copenhagen, Calderone and her team at Studio Athena Calderone made respectful updates to the swaggering floor plan. Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for respectful

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of respectful was in 1593

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respectful. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

respectful

adjective
re·​spect·​ful ri-ˈspekt-fəl How to pronounce respectful (audio)
: marked by or showing respect
a respectful manner
respectful of others
respectfully adverb
respectfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on respectful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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