respectful

adjective

ri-ˈspekt-fəl How to pronounce respectful (audio)
Definition of respectfulnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 respectful Billingslea's family has described him as bright, respectful and determined, and a young man who dreamed of becoming an engineer. — Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Caudle has also met with both groups to discuss the future of the site, and said the conversation was respectful. — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2026 The order also authorizes the Justice Department to challenge state vaccine regulations deemed insufficiently respectful of parental objections. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 17 Aug. 2026 Let’s all be respectful of others and make the most out of our limited beach time. — John Natale, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for respectful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectful
  1. deferent
  2. polite
  3. deferential
  4. reverent
Adjective
  • 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 Feb. 2026
  • 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.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of deferent
Adjective
  • In other words, what happens when their agreeable or polite approach to attaining something doesn’t work?
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Tell us about the crew From the waitstaff in the restaurants to the bartenders to the butler, the crew members were unfailingly polite and helpful.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • Carefully deferential to the star, Parton carved out a foothold for herself.
    — RJ Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Conservatives desperately needed an alliance with a reliably deferential party that could win elections.
    — Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of deferential
Adjective
  • These movies always run the risk of being overly reverent, and for better and worse, Johnson’s take on Bourdain’s formative years is not concerned with reverence.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The Lost Boys gave us the chance to create something that feels reverent toward the film while still staking its own claim.
    — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of reverent

Browse Nearby Words

respected
respectful
respectfully
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Cite this Entry

“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectful. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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