as in deferent
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status
the children were remarkably respectful while in the president's office
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Recent Examples of respectful
Even the nonpartisan institutions of government—the Supreme Court and Joint Chiefs of Staff—attend in robes and uniforms, adding the symbolism of their respectful neutrality.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
The current challenge process provides families with a respectful way to raise concerns and ensures materials are reviewed carefully and fairly.
—Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Keep your eyes peeled for friction-causing patterns, then bring them up in a respectful way.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Citywide and Community Education Councils are independent bodies, and their meetings are expected to be respectful spaces for students, families, and staff.
—Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for respectful
David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
The current challenge process provides families with a respectful way to raise concerns and ensures materials are reviewed carefully and fairly.
—Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Keep your eyes peeled for friction-causing patterns, then bring them up in a respectful way.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Citywide and Community Education Councils are independent bodies, and their meetings are expected to be respectful spaces for students, families, and staff.
—Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectful
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
The service The staff is efficient, polite, and friendly.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
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This more loosely prescribed tradition stems partly from our big Southern families full of siblings and cousins, as well as partly from how Southerners are polite to a fault—and don’t ever want to leave anyone out.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Using drone surveys to map the forest canopy, the team tested how views might shift if certain trees were felled, inching toward a location that felt both deliberate and deferential to the land.—
Leonora Epstein,
Architectural Digest,
27 Feb. 2026
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Supreme Court review could provide an intriguing mix of issues for the nine justices, a majority of whom are viewed as business-friendly but also deferential to states’ rights and skeptical of federal agencies.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That’s the biggest takeaway from the singer/songwriter’s magical, spirited and joyous performance Saturday night in front of a sold-out, absolutely reverent crowd at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
22 Feb. 2026
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Phones stayed largely down — which in this case felt less like reverent immersion and more like a crowd waiting for something to catch fire.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectful. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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