Synonyms of deferential

deferential

adjective

ˌde-fə-ˈren-chəl 

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

• respectful
• deferent
• regardful
• dutiful
• polite
• reverent
• gracious
• civil
• reverential
• worshipful
• obsequious
• servile
• sycophantic
• fawning
• courteous
• subservient
• hagiographic
• venerating
• kowtowing
• toadying
• genuflecting
• groveling
• kid-glove
• kid-gloved

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disrespectful
• offensive
• abusive
• insulting
• demeaning
• derogatory
• contemptuous
• undutiful
• disparaging
• scornful
• irreverent
• impudent
• insolent
• rude
• depreciatory
• depreciative
• discourteous
• uncivil
• belittling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deferential

Carefully deferential to the star, Parton carved out a foothold for herself. — Rj Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Conservatives desperately needed an alliance with a reliably deferential party that could win elections. — Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026

The trial attorney was struck by how deferential the judge was to Cohn. — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Biden argued the administration had been too deferential to Wall Street and too cautious about confronting China over intellectual property theft. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 July 2026