1
as in respected
having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge
no respectable dietician would advise people to eat just one kind of food
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2
as in honorable
following the accepted rules of moral conduct
cheating is not a respectable thing to do under any circumstances
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3
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste
has the respectable manners of someone who was well brought up
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4
as in decent
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards
the artwork that we commissioned from the muralist turned out to be respectable but was not quite what we had hoped for
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5
as in considerable
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention
got paid a respectable sum for speaking at our graduation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of respectable
Wanaka Mountain Guides leads multi-day expeditions to the bucket-list summits of Mount Cook (New Zealand’s highest peak at 12,217 feet) and Mount Aspiring (a respectable 9,950-feet).
—
Jen Murphy, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026
With a plot reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice, Behind Five Willows explores what happens when a young woman from a poor family and a wealthy, respectable son of a noble decide to challenge government censorship and the strict social hierarchies that shape their lives.
—Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
Broadly speaking, according to the 2026 CNBC Market Strategist Survey, Wall Street expects the S&P 500 will climb by roughly 11% in 2026 — a respectable rise that nevertheless falls short of the advance of the last three.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
So high-five yourself—you're crushing it in a very respectable, post-holiday way.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respectable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectable
Adjective
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And Fisher, then one of the more respected economists in the nation, decided to make a bold prediction that would prove to have comically bad timing.—
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The Kentucky native was a highly respected immunologist for local companies Abbott and Baxter and one of the few Black women to be awarded a patent in the sciences.—
Adjective
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Clarke, a junior, also was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection after totaling 30 tackles, eight passes defended and a fumble recovery in eight games.—
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Other than honorable discharges carry serious, long-term consequences, including the inability to access veteran benefits and disqualifications on becoming a police officer.—
Adjective
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This said, the movers were very polite and respectful and removed all of the excess packing.—
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Among her trio of old friends on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, Kate is the polite peacekeeper.—
Adjective
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To be sure, that was a decent salary back then, and would be equivalent to roughly $114,000 today.—
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On Wednesday, the Tigers earned a commitment from former Mississippi State offensive lineman Luke Work, who has decent experience at every position along the offensive line except center.—
Adjective
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Defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot) is the only considerable contributor inactive with injury.—
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In theory, this engine could achieve escape velocity from the Solar System, but would also produce considerable heat and radiation that would need to be safely contained.—
Adjective
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One of the world’s most prestigious art events, Miami Art Week began with Art Basel Miami Beach in 2002 and has since grown into a citywide celebration that draws nearly 80,000 art lovers and tastemakers.—
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As a result, the job of BBC director general — though certainly prestigious —is also relentless and thankless.—
Adjective
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Yet, to be honest, our dance card is already mighty full with a whole array of different kinds of gigs – from big pop shows to classic rock concerts and a number of different small club shows.—
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Shared finances, emotional investments or trust issues become crystal clear, prompting honest conversations and practical decision-making.—
Adjective
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Resar said the issue is technique and having a dedicated coach who specializes in tight ends and can teach him proper footwork and hand placement.—
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After not hosting an official ceremony in 2022, the Golden Globes returned to proper form in 2023, with stars showing off jaw-dropping looks on the red carpet.—
Cite this Entry
“Respectable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectable. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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