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 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
Although congressional Republicans have remained deferential to Trump, their patience appears to be wearing thin.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2025
Some see Jeffries and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer as too deferential to established norms or too reluctant to use procedural powers to slow down Trump’s agenda.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
Although congressional Republicans have remained deferential to Trump, their patience appears to be wearing thin.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2025
Some see Jeffries and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer as too deferential to established norms or too reluctant to use procedural powers to slow down Trump’s agenda.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deferential
Adjective
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The young man's friends have spoken out in support of him, with his soccer teammates describing a reliable, respectful, and kind person.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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Instead, your space should feel intentional and respectful of your guests, Mitchell says.—
Shivani Vyas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Aug. 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 22 Aug. 2025.
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