as in respectful
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status
the man had the deferential attitude of someone who had been a servant his entire life
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Recent Examples of deferential
Alston is significant because as Justice Neil Gorsuch clarified in the majority opinion, the NCAA is not owed a deferential standard of review on antitrust claims.
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2025
As with his new podcast, Mr. Newsom was deferential, in awe of the ideas explained by his guest.
—Laurel Rosenhall, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
In the 7-2 majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch upheld the 2022 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule by applying an incredibly deferential standard.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
That deferential standard had been observed since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in NCAA v. Board of Regents (1984), a case that concerned NCAA rules restricting schools’ autonomy to broadcast football games on national TV networks.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2025
As with his new podcast, Mr. Newsom was deferential, in awe of the ideas explained by his guest.
—Laurel Rosenhall, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
In the 7-2 majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch upheld the 2022 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule by applying an incredibly deferential standard.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
That deferential standard had been observed since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in NCAA v. Board of Regents (1984), a case that concerned NCAA rules restricting schools’ autonomy to broadcast football games on national TV networks.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deferential
Adjective
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Mutual understanding of individual work styles fosters a more effective and respectful team environment.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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Antetokounmpo seemed to take exception to the towel waving, perceiving it as taunting, and engaged in what seemed like a stern but respectful back-and-forth.—
Amos Morale III,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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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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,
19 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Deferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deferential. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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