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
In short, the Trump-Ukraine policy that the country’s defenders feared — one that is overly deferential to Russia and pushes for a quick deal, even at the cost of Ukraine’s sovereignty — appears to be coming to fruition.
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Joshua Keating, Vox, 20 Feb. 2025
The Red Sox have long taken an almost deferential approach to Devers, but Tuesday, one day before the Bregman deal was complete, Breslow offered a more assertive tone.
—Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Back in the sleeping area, Dae-ho confessed to being Gi-hun’s fan and was extra deferential to his fellow ex-Marine, Jung-bae.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
On a team of superstars, Salaam was a bashful giant, deferential and unselfish to the last.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Joshua Keating, Vox, 20 Feb. 2025
The Red Sox have long taken an almost deferential approach to Devers, but Tuesday, one day before the Bregman deal was complete, Breslow offered a more assertive tone.
—Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Back in the sleeping area, Dae-ho confessed to being Gi-hun’s fan and was extra deferential to his fellow ex-Marine, Jung-bae.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
On a team of superstars, Salaam was a bashful giant, deferential and unselfish to the last.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Cite this Entry
“Deferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deferential. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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