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 new additions are thoughtful and deferential, keeping the original intact to a great degree.
—
Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
In so doing, the courts largely cast aside a century of jurisprudence in which courts were deferential to the Commissioners’ role as guardians of their leagues.
—Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
In the 1880s, John appeared destined for poetic glory and Constantine’s deferential posture tacitly accepted this outcome.
—Gregory Jusdanis, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
In so doing, the courts largely cast aside a century of jurisprudence in which courts were deferential to the Commissioners’ role as guardians of their leagues.
—Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
In the 1880s, John appeared destined for poetic glory and Constantine’s deferential posture tacitly accepted this outcome.
—Gregory Jusdanis, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deferential
Adjective
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Keeping her content respectful is also important, and Abrams is adamant about telling these individual's stories and restoring their graves with their humanity in mind.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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And someone who is a great listener, respectful, caring, chilled out, someone who supports my dreams – and is cool with my chaos!—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 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 3 Nov. 2025.
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