respect 1 of 2

noun

ri-ˈspekt How to pronounce respect (audio)
Definition of respectnext
1
as in admiration
a feeling of great approval and liking I have a lot of respect for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s steadfast courage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in regard
relation to or concern with something specified with respect to your application

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in regards
respects plural best wishes give your mother my respects

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

respect

2 of 2

verb

ri-ˈspekt How to pronounce respect (audio)
as in to admire
to think very highly or favorably of an upstanding senator who is respected by political allies and foes alike

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb respect contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of respect are admire, esteem, and regard. While all these words mean "to recognize the worth of a person or thing," respect implies a considered evaluation or estimation.

after many years they came to respect her views

When can admire be used instead of respect?

While in some cases nearly identical to respect, admire suggests usually enthusiastic appreciation and often deep affection.

a friend that I truly admire

When could esteem be used to replace respect?

The words esteem and respect can be used in similar contexts, but esteem implies greater warmth of feeling accompanying a high valuation.

no citizen of the town was more highly esteemed

When might regard be a better fit than respect?

The words regard and respect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, regard is a general term that is usually qualified.

he is highly regarded in the profession

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 respect
Noun
For one minute during his funeral, as a mark of respect, all Bell telephone service across America stopped. — Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026 The citizens of Chicago should demand that any person seeking the privilege to govern our city should demonstrate both the respect for the opinions of its residents, as well as a vision for reinvigorated methods of governing our city. — Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
Simply asking tourists to respect the cemetery is not enough, according to Sánchez-Aguirre. — Rocio Muñoz Ledo, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2026 As more former child actors continue to come forward about their troubling experiences on TV sets, Gosselaar remembers Haskins as someone who helped make Saved by the Bell a place where its teenage stars felt respected and protected. — Kat Pettibone, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for respect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respect
  1. admiration
  2. regard
  3. regards
  4. admire
  5. appreciation
  6. reference
  7. greetings
  8. appreciate
Noun
  • As Intterra began hearing both the admiration fire chiefs had for Watch Duty and their frustration with it, the company started designing the Aware app.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Queen Camilla, who wears the midi and maxidresses, took her admiration for Me+Em a step further, handing the brand a Royal Warrant as an official supplier of clothing and accessories to the royal household.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of admiration
Noun
  • But his moves to reshape the party in his image over the past two years also often showed little regard for conventional political risk assessment.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Ghilarducci sees Watch Duty as no different in that regard from news channels or publications from which residents already were receiving constant updates.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of regard
Noun
  • MacBooks are simply better laptops in most regards, with minor losses in display quality and AI functionality.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, in many regards, the Grammys remain a game of the usual suspects, as a certain level of visibility and proximity to mainstream America is seemingly required to claim a nomination, let alone a victory.
    — Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of regards
Verb
  • In the Loop, sit by warming firepits or in an igloo or cabana at The Godfrey Hotel’s Winter Wonderland, or admire breathtaking views at Rudolph’s Rooftop Winter Igloos at LondonHouse Chicago.
    — Allison Yates, Midwest Living, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The model for the painting (disputed by some historians) was allegedly Simonetta Vespucci (née Cattaneo), a renowned beauty in Florentine high society whom Botticelli greatly admired.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of admire
Noun
  • Whether or not students walk away wanting to pursue a career in STEM, this incredible immersion in astronomy can help to foster a lifelong appreciation for science and nature.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The play forced the Heat (2-5) to call a timeout as Doncic pointed at LaRavia in appreciation.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of appreciation
Noun
  • McDoom is mostly more reverent toward her acid-folk references than her Jamaican ones.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The power architecture could serve as a reference for other data centers as the industry moves toward 800-volt DC infrastructure.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of reference
Noun
  • That message came from school after school site, where polls were open and politicians and volunteers shared greetings, and while the federal election monitors were said to be calm and polite, their presence was called troubling.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Throughout the four days of Polofest, Murayama and his co-founders behind the shop fielded warm greetings from admirers from around the world.
    — Zachary Weiss, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of greetings
Verb
  • Even someone actively avoiding the trend cycle can appreciate a new way to wear their sweater vest and white button-down shirt.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some participants appreciate the light-hearted and good-natured humor, expressing gratitude and finding it timely and amusing.
    — Edith Pritchett, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of appreciate

Phrases Containing respect

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resources
respect
respectability
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Cite this Entry

“Respect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respect. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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