Synonyms of dutiful

dutiful

adjective

ˈdü-ti-fəl 

as in respectful

marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status

the family showed a dutiful deference to their minister when he came to dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dutiful

Throughout much of the season Elassal plays the dutiful friend to his core group — Lucy Freyer’s Billie, Owen Thiele’s Anton, Amita Rao’s Issa and Jack Innanen’s Paul Baker — and dutiful boyfriend to Rachel Marsh’s Carly. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026

There would be the dutiful once-a-year visit from Rebecca and the child. — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026

Americans are accustomed to showing wide deference to senior military leaders, treating them as dutiful public servants rather than possible enablers of presidential lawlessness. — Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 25 June 2026

Mercifully, a dutiful crab and a dim-witted seagull can pick up the slack. — Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026