respectful

adjective

ri-ˈspekt-fəl How to pronounce respectful (audio)
Definition of respectfulnext
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

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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 In public communication, maintaining a respectful attitude is generally regarded as more important than speaking one’s mind. — Tom Williams, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 Members of Davis' family also testified Tuesday, describing him as a kind, humble, and respectful young man whose actions while under the influence were out of character. — Anna McAllister, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 The messages, reviewed by Semafor, were heated but respectful. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026 There, the esteemed man himself answers the respectful but probing questions of journalists. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for respectful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectful
  1. deferent
  2. polite
  3. deferential
  4. reverent
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 Feb. 2026
  • 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
Definition of deferent
Adjective
  • As always, the Vivint technician was prompt and polite and needed just under one hour to install the camera, attach the Spotlight Pro fixture, and pair the camera to my Vivint hub.
    — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • That message came from school after school site, where polls were open and politicians and volunteers shared greetings, and while the federal election monitors were said to be calm and polite, their presence was called troubling.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • The community is highly deferential to Fuentes, O’Brian says, eager to gain his favor by clipping and posting moments from his show or attacking his critics online.
    — Nathan Taylor Pemberton, Vanity Fair, 29 Oct. 2026
  • All that requisite lightness and deference when there was nothing light or deferential about her.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of deferential
Adjective
  • McDoom is mostly more reverent toward her acid-folk references than her Jamaican ones.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Brought from the page to the gallery wall, Loran’s diagram looks a bit like anti-art rather than reverent analysis of a masterpiece.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of reverent

Browse Nearby Words

respected
respectful
respectfully
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Cite this Entry

“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectful. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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