as in morality
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Recent Examples of respectability
Trump isn’t known to prioritize respectability arguments or appeals to civic virtue.
—
Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
This emphasis on wholesome working-class respectability is heedless of the ’60s rushing toward them, a decade that, by 1958, the other counselors have prematurely embraced.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
An impending free agent looking for a big payday, Chisholm still has a long way to go before his numbers reach respectability.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
Having failed to qualify six times in a row, Latvia has enjoyed mid-table respectability in the last two finals.
—Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 11 May 2026
There’s also discomfort around Black expression that exists outside of respectability politics.
—Essence, 11 May 2026
Bryson Graham, who began his career as an intern in the New Orleans Pelicans basketball operations department, now will be in charge of bringing the Chicago Bulls back to respectability.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
The result is a finale that feels performed rather than lived, landing with respectability instead of devastation.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Besides, the involvement of lawyers, with their downtown office suites, perfumed the whole arrangement with an aroma of respectability.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
This emphasis on wholesome working-class respectability is heedless of the ’60s rushing toward them, a decade that, by 1958, the other counselors have prematurely embraced.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
An impending free agent looking for a big payday, Chisholm still has a long way to go before his numbers reach respectability.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
Having failed to qualify six times in a row, Latvia has enjoyed mid-table respectability in the last two finals.
—Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 11 May 2026
There’s also discomfort around Black expression that exists outside of respectability politics.
—Essence, 11 May 2026
Bryson Graham, who began his career as an intern in the New Orleans Pelicans basketball operations department, now will be in charge of bringing the Chicago Bulls back to respectability.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
The result is a finale that feels performed rather than lived, landing with respectability instead of devastation.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Besides, the involvement of lawyers, with their downtown office suites, perfumed the whole arrangement with an aroma of respectability.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectability
Noun
-
In some ways, the histories of this school call back to those written in the 19th century, casting the country’s origin as providential—not quite an immaculate conception, but not far off—and emphasizing the morality and timelessness of America’s founding creed.—
Yoni Appelbaum,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
-
Lestat justifies his, uh, connection with Gabriella by arguing that vampires transcend petty human concepts like conventional morality.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Thompson mentions that cartoons from this era often leaned on straightforward ideas about decency, and Doug fit that mold without being preachy about it.—
Alex Shoemaker,
Parents,
6 June 2026
-
In 2016, voters were asked to choose between a populist candidate dogged by questions about his integrity, judgment, decency, civility, empathy, and respect for everyone from complete strangers to his own wife, and an overqualified, glass-ceiling-smashing woman.—
Shannon A. Mullen,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Performers in traditional dress portray Inca nobility, priests and warriors, and the rituals are conducted in Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire and still widely spoken in the Andes today.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
-
The Korean nobility of bygone eras simply had better taste.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Past philosophers, such as Aristotle, emphasized the necessity of virtue in both the people and their rulers, and Montesquieu argued that virtue was the defining principle of republics.—
Jordan Cash,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
-
As progressives have begun to fear that the American system might in fact be lost, many have rediscovered its virtues.—
Yoni Appelbaum,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
In fairness, the NBA’s young stars usually experience playoff failure before hoisting a championship trophy.—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
In fairness to RoboClown, that kid was standing directly in the path of its kicks.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Building a reputation for trustworthiness and fairness through transparent actions and accountability also helps reinforce one’s incorruptibility.—
Nancy Pulciano,
Rolling Stone,
20 Feb. 2026
-
While critics say these changes are merely cosmetic, many ordinary Bangladeshis have been sold on the veneer of incorruptibility that comes from a theological under-pinning.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Empathy, service orientation and conscientiousness are genuine assets the for-profit world could learn from.—
Patrick Jinks,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Two programs Dudamel led in March were powerful examples of civic conscientiousness.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The boy’s family and county leaders are renewing their plea for witnesses to come forward, saying justice for a child lost to senseless street violence is long overdue.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
At the same time, the resolution calls for humane immigration policies that uphold justice and mercy, strongly rejecting nativism, discrimination and racial or ethnic hostility.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Respectability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectability. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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