as in respectful
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status
the family showed a dutiful deference to their minister when he came to dinner
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Recent Examples of dutiful
Samantha is the dutiful 1960s suburban wife who is secretly a witch.
—
Lisa Stardust, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
Keeping up with Jones Daniel Jones has always been a dutiful quarterback.
—Charlotte Carroll, The Athletic, 1 July 2024
Popular pop and country songs blaring over the sound system were punctuated by an Italian opera aria, and finally the warm-up speakers, all local politicians, made their dutiful speeches.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
David, high strung and dutiful, is leading the life of a responsible adult.
—TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dutiful 
Lisa Stardust, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
Keeping up with Jones Daniel Jones has always been a dutiful quarterback.
—Charlotte Carroll, The Athletic, 1 July 2024
Popular pop and country songs blaring over the sound system were punctuated by an Italian opera aria, and finally the warm-up speakers, all local politicians, made their dutiful speeches.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
David, high strung and dutiful, is leading the life of a responsible adult.
—TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dutiful
Thesaurus Entries Near dutiful
Cite this Entry
“Dutiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dutiful. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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