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
Angel went for a respectful middle-of-the-road jab — complimenting her parenting and resilience, but maligning her for being petty.
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Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
In this regard, a respectful and loyal relationship with the United States is very important.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Granular data, paired with respectful, stigma-free engagement, would allow states to focus resources where they are most needed.
—Deborah L. Birx, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
Trump’s relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is just as volatile, ranging from verbal fistfights in the Oval Office to respectful deliberation.
—Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for respectful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectful
Adjective
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And many advocates are promoting a vision of public health that’s less dependent on mandates and appeals to authority, and more deferent to individuals’ beliefs.—
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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.—
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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For starters, the applicable standard of review—meaning how the Ninth Circuit will evaluate Wilken’s ruling—is deferential to Wilken as the trial judge.—
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But under that deferential standard, the District Court’s ‘plausible’ (actually, quite careful) factfinding must survive.—
Adjective
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Inside, the mood was hushed, reverent.—
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It’s been heartening to see these many reverent tributes to not only Reiner’s good deeds in the arena of social justice, but also to his film work, which has maybe not always been properly appreciated for its breadth and vitality.—
Cite this Entry
“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectful. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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