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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of respectful
Autonomy and flexibility Being treated like a responsible adult who is capable of doing their work without micromanagement is a humane and respectful approach employers can take to make employees happier.
—
William Vanderbloemen, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
My stance is that our policies should provide adequate, respectful facilities for all students, balancing legal requirements with the responsibility to protect student well-being and dignity.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Oct. 2025
It was acquired by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate after debuting to respectful reviews at Sundance.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
The Panthers enjoyed a respectful rivalry with the Birmingham Bulls and a less respectful one with the Nottingham Hoods.
—Peter Carline, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respectful
William Vanderbloemen, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
My stance is that our policies should provide adequate, respectful facilities for all students, balancing legal requirements with the responsibility to protect student well-being and dignity.
—Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Oct. 2025
It was acquired by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate after debuting to respectful reviews at Sundance.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
The Panthers enjoyed a respectful rivalry with the Birmingham Bulls and a less respectful one with the Nottingham Hoods.
—Peter Carline, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectful
Adjective
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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
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Here are six seemingly polite habits that party hosts actually dislike.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
14 Oct. 2025
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The younger woman smiling coyly, as if with a secret, while the older of the two, still young herself, anxious and polite, looks at the strange columns in the kitchen, trying not to be rude about it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That Maestro screening featured the vociferous participation of Leonard Bernstein’s surviving family members, as well as Cooper himself watching silently from the audience (the strike prevented him from doing more), a perfect companion to Cooper’s alternately reverent and over-the-top biopic.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
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The atmosphere is reverent and energized, with attendees standing in collective praise hours before the formal program begins.—
Amanda Castro
Mandy Taheri
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Maryland’s appeal points to Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, which instructs federal judges to be highly deferential in evaluating state criminal convictions.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
24 Sep. 2025
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The joke was neither too harsh nor too deferential.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectful. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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