respectfully

adverb

1
as in lovingly

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2
as in politely

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Dissimilar Words

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 respectfully In a statement, Essayli said his office respectfully disagreed with the order and indicated Seabright's ruling will follow a similar path to the Supreme Court. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Even as Heath stumbles his way through the lyrics, the audience respectfully claps along to the beat. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 Everyone here almost too respectfully gives one another their turn to speak, the conversation rarely fomenting into argument or overlapping chatter. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2026 Without becoming defensive or overly apologetic, respectfully reinforce that your decision has already been made. — Jasmine Johnson, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026 Our father taught us how to speak about patients respectfully— while acting efficiently and empathetically. — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026 Even after the game, Riley apparently wasn’t aware that Stephens was soon on the sideline thereafter shown on NBC’s broadcast, not kneeling respectfully or exhibiting concern, but smiling and dapping up teammates. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 Rather than insisting that these whales continue with their life, which is a human decision, perhaps they should be allowed to die gracefully and respectfully on their own. — Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026 Trust must be earned at the dais, by members who debate respectfully, explain themselves honestly and treat neighbors as neighbors. — Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectfully
  1. lovingly
  2. politely
  3. positively
  4. courteously
  5. civilly
Adverb
  • Good Time is lovingly faithful to the country-buffet genre, down to the industrial carpeting.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Although the hockey mask never appears, Kane lovingly re-creates exact scenes from the original movie to offer flashes of eye candy to Jason fanatics.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of lovingly
Adverb
  • Can his anti-establishment, punk-rock spirit politely endure an attaboy from the man?
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • My New York neighbors barely said hello; in Singapore, a stranger would probably politely look away rather than risk embarrassing you.
    — Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of politely
Adverb
  • Unlike the High Church Swift, Defoe was a puritan (in many things), and where the former was suspicious of the economic instrumentalization that turned people into commodities, the latter was positively bullish on the market economy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Lawrence also noted that becoming a mom has positively impacted her career.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of positively
Adverb
  • Two inspectors knocked on doors and spoke courteously to surprised visitors who displayed booking contracts on their phones, the inspectors’ bodycam footage showed.
    — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • When a visitor arrives in a classroom, a classroom ambassador welcomes them, introduces himself and the subject being taught, and courteously asks for the visitor’s name and affiliation.
    — Walter Fields, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Definition of courteously
Adverb
  • Tucker was never criminally charged or sued civilly over the allegations, but the allegations, and subsequent NFL suspension, led some to compare him to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • On Thursday, after an eight-day trial, a 10-person federal jury found that Plazas Vega was not civilly liable for Urán’s torture or extrajudicial killing.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of civilly

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Cite this Entry

“Respectfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectfully. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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