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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of respectful
Like a mirthful wake, the mood was reflective, respectful — and celebratory.
—
Emma Bowman, NPR, 23 June 2025
Nelson recommends both friends laying down their swords and starting a respectful, ideally private, dialogue.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 21 June 2025
Here’s what to know to be a respectful and resourceful plant propagator, not a thief.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
Wild horse tours provide an off-road, closer look at the free-roaming horses originally brought from Spain while maintaining a safe and respectful distance.
—Kate Lewis, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Emma Bowman, NPR, 23 June 2025
Nelson recommends both friends laying down their swords and starting a respectful, ideally private, dialogue.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 21 June 2025
Here’s what to know to be a respectful and resourceful plant propagator, not a thief.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
Wild horse tours provide an off-road, closer look at the free-roaming horses originally brought from Spain while maintaining a safe and respectful distance.
—Kate Lewis, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectful
Adjective
-
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
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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,
19 Apr. 2023
Adjective
-
Anne Hathaway’s Lureen, all rodeo sparkle and small-town ambition, is Jack’s half-hearted refuge; her final scene is a master class in polite denial, her eyes steel behind a frosty Texas drawl.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
27 June 2025
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Fittingly, a green laser shined out into the crowd as attendees turned from polite listeners to a rowdy mosh pit, singing every word.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
West's playing here is precise, reverent, never indulgent.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
19 June 2025
-
Craig is self-reflective while being appropriately reverent to the tropes of the genre.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
Chief Justice Roberts 'wrong,' courts should be 'deferential' The Trump administration's mass deportation efforts have repeatedly hit legal challenges.—
Victoria Moorwood,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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The appeals court applied the most deferential level of review, rational basis, and found that the requirement satisfied it.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectful. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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