respectfully

adverb

1
as in lovingly

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2
as in politely

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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 Those qualities, combined with nearly twenty years of courtroom experience, have prepared me to serve fairly, respectfully, and impartially as a County Court Judge. — Schnelle Tonge, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2026 Sheinbaum did her best to respectfully downplay the significance of the former president’s screed. — Tim Golden, ProPublica, 13 July 2026 Leaders will want to listen without becoming defensive, while younger professionals should feel empowered to share their thoughts openly and respectfully. — Terri Eagle, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Leaving respectfully can preserve those relationships, and that matters more than staying out of guilt ever will. — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 7 July 2026 Put yourself in situations where people are willing to talk respectfully and address their differences. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 4 July 2026 How to Properly Retire a Flag While retiring a flag involves taking it down, folding it into a triangle, and respectfully burning it, there are specific protocols to follow. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 3 July 2026 However, strong plays by the Ecuadorian selection were respectfully acknowledged by Mexico supporters. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 Being a pro athlete doesn’t exempt you from behaving respectfully in society. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectfully
  1. lovingly
  2. politely
  3. positively
  4. courteously
  5. civilly
Adverb
  • From Piggly Wiggly to gas station, deli to sit-down-restaurant, most quick lunch establishments (and the Southerners that lovingly and critically frequent them) take the flavor, texture, and temperature of their chicken salads extremely seriously.
    — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
  • According to Carswell, the home’s remarkable condition reflects the couple who lovingly cared for it for decades.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Definition of lovingly
Adverb
  • By then, von Stroheim had offered his services to the French army, which thanked him politely but declined.
    — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026
  • Sight and sound are the two senses that dominate any media-watching experience, and bad audio is enough to make your guests cringe and politely decline your next watch-party invitation.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 16 July 2026
Definition of politely
Adverb
  • The future of the microcollege movement remains uncertain, but alumni like Coyne believe their own futures have been positively shaped by the experience.
    — Kerry McDonald, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Tillis, who spent much of his time at the hearing complaining about the Biden administration, seemed positively inclined toward Blanche.
    — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 16 July 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
  • Trump separately was found civilly liable by another Manhattan federal court jury for having defamed Carroll.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 29 June 2026
  • The seven-person jury deliberated for about eight hours over two days before finding Banken and several of his companies civilly liable for violating the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
    — Andy Mannix, ProPublica, 23 June 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 22 Jul. 2026.

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