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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of respectful
In fairness, that principle has been touted since the days of Bikini Kill and Fugazi, who’d ask their crowds to be respectful in the pit.
—
Juan Velasquez, Them., 1 Apr. 2025
After convening stakeholders, establish clear ground rules for respectful communication, active listening and open feedback.
—Chris Williams, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The consensus favored a private and respectful notification—ideally from another woman or through gym staff—to spare the woman continued public exposure without adding to her discomfort.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The detectives who go after them, who are really good, are respectful of those thieves who are good.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Juan Velasquez, Them., 1 Apr. 2025
After convening stakeholders, establish clear ground rules for respectful communication, active listening and open feedback.
—Chris Williams, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The consensus favored a private and respectful notification—ideally from another woman or through gym staff—to spare the woman continued public exposure without adding to her discomfort.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The detectives who go after them, who are really good, are respectful of those thieves who are good.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectful
Adjective
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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,
25 Nov. 2024
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Curiously, the Biden administration sees it this way, too, but still takes a stance deferent to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s fierce advocacy for it and opposition to U.S. sanctions that would target European companies and individuals involved in its construction.—
Jimmy Quinn,
National Review,
20 July 2021
Adjective
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Though he was disappointed by the loss, Page didn't demonstrate any further wrestling tactics on Seacrest and ended the show with a polite handshake.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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His boss and co-worker remember him as quiet, polite and professional.—
James Bandler,
ProPublica,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The learning process for me over the course of the first two years was to not be as reverent of the original.—
Rick Porter,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
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The Sundance online platform has allowed for a more democratic festival experience (feature film tickets cost $35) when stacked against its peer events, which are reverent to theaters only and in less accessible locations.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Critics of the Trump administration’s long-overdue attempt to degrade the Houthis’ capacity to disrupt international shipping (a terrorist initiative that is occasionally quite deferential to the West’s enemies in Beijing and Moscow) have made a variety of tendentious claims.—
The Editors,
National Review,
18 Mar. 2025
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As Zelensky tried to get a word in, Trump and Vance attack him for not being sufficiently deferential.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectful. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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