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 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 On-site activities focus on using the natural environment respectfully, whether that's taking classes at Sandcastle University to become an expert sand sculptor or exploring 28 miles of nearby hiking and biking trails. — Molly O'Brien, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2026 Something that started off respectfully and and never veered from that path. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectfully
  1. lovingly
  2. politely
  3. positively
  4. courteously
  5. civilly
Adverb
  • Earlier in the day, Gomez also shared a sweet Instagram Stories post of her and husband Benny Blanco looking lovingly at each other on a couch.
    — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • The Bosphorus is lined with palatial beauties lovingly restored as boutique hotels, but Six Senses Kocatas Mansions Istanbul embraces a more exclusive private villa feel.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 1 July 2026
Definition of lovingly
Adverb
  • Contreras, to his credit, came out and pleaded his case politely after interim manager Chad Tracy had a conversation with the umpire.
    — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 30 June 2026
  • Your perspective is changing, but choosing to stay politely objective or undecided will no longer suffice, Libra.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of politely
Adverb
  • When new employee Theint (Nandar Myint Lwin) tells a white lie to cover for her after an unauthorized bathroom break, San Kyi’s face turns positively radiant with gratitude, while Teint merely winks in response.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 July 2026
  • Despite this, the ability to earn some premium items for free via in-game finds is viewed positively, making the overall change a beneficial improvement.
    — Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of positively
Adverb
  • 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 13 Jul. 2026.

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