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
Then the once-deferential females rise up and wage bloody battles against one another to vie for the crown.
—
Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026
But while the Supreme Court has historically been deferential to presidents on immigration issues, defining who is an American by birth is different, according to longtime immigration law scholar Stephen Yale-Loehr.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
At the start of the season, there was a deferential aspect to Jakucionis’ play, including his shooting.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Harrell thinks the courts could be deferential to the White House in that respect, but that increasing the duty to 15 percent could invite greater legal scrutiny and make the argument more wobbly.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026
But while the Supreme Court has historically been deferential to presidents on immigration issues, defining who is an American by birth is different, according to longtime immigration law scholar Stephen Yale-Loehr.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
At the start of the season, there was a deferential aspect to Jakucionis’ play, including his shooting.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Harrell thinks the courts could be deferential to the White House in that respect, but that increasing the duty to 15 percent could invite greater legal scrutiny and make the argument more wobbly.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deferential
Adjective
-
Classy, tasteful, and respectful authority, but authority nonetheless.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
Colbert had a warm and respectful connection with the musician, who appeared on the show several times.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
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 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Deferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deferential. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
