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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 respectful
How to Set Boundaries If Disagreements Escalate Keeping calm and respectful, especially with a person that knows how to push our buttons, can be challenging.
—
Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 30 Oct. 2025
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
The wall is located on the front lawn of a private home, so organizers ask visitors to be respectful.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
Cooper—director of pictures like Crazy Heart, Hostiles, and most recently The Pale Blue Eye—makes sure the proceedings are always restrained and respectful.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 30 Oct. 2025
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
The wall is located on the front lawn of a private home, so organizers ask visitors to be respectful.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
Cooper—director of pictures like Crazy Heart, Hostiles, and most recently The Pale Blue Eye—makes sure the proceedings are always restrained and respectful.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
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
-
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 listener is no longer an outsider from the polite world of public broadcasting, or podcasting, but a tired factory worker longing for relief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
One that isn’t slurred together from such a familiar combination of backwater lawlessness, faux-polite menace, and profoundly sweaty animal metaphors.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority has been very deferential to executive authority, particularly in matters of foreign policy and national security.—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
4 Nov. 2025
-
And so, despite some emotionally satiating patriotic rhetoric on the campaign trail, Carney was deferential and complimentary to Trump on his courtly visit to the Oval Office shortly after winning the election.—
Dónal Gill,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Though her early figurative sculptures like The Great Blessing of Abraham and Angel of Joshua are overt in their religious references, her abstract Burntworks feel no less reverent.—
Grace Edquist,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2025
-
There is a fine line between reverent homage and cheap pastiche; Shelby Oaks largely exists on the latter side.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectful. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share