Synonyms of deferential

deferential

adjective

ˌde-fə-ˈren-chəl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• respectful
• deferent
• regardful
• dutiful
• polite
• reverent
• civil
• gracious
• worshipful
• reverential
• obsequious
• servile
• grovelling
• sycophantic
• hagiographical
• fawning
• courteous
• subservient
• venerating
• hagiographic
• kowtowing
• toadying
• genuflecting
• groveling
• kid-glove
• kid-gloved

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disrespectful
• offensive
• abusive
• insulting
• demeaning
• derogatory
• contemptuous
• undutiful
• disparaging
• scornful
• irreverent
• impudent
• insolent
• rude
• depreciatory
• depreciative
• discourteous
• uncivil
• belittling

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of deferential

The Oval Office has only one occupant at a time and Trump won't take over until Jan. 20, but Biden has appeared deferential to letting his successor get involved in negotiations and has not pushed back on his efforts to be engaged in talks. —Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, 13 Dec. 2024

Malcolm’s directorial choices diverge from his father’s old-school creative sensibilities; the pacing is faster, the music more dramatic and less deferential to the story’s era. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024

For folks who remain defiantly deferential to whiskies of the British Isles, that’s a serious wakeup call. —Brad Japhe, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Rival agents in the past have criticized the union as deferential to Boras. —Evan Drellich, The Athletic, 5 Dec. 2024