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

But veterans’ groups complained that the new court was being too deferential to the VA when reviewing the agency’s decisions. —Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 16 Oct. 2024

The court, which has historically been deferential toward sports governing bodies and their regulations, was highly critical of FIFA’s transfer system. —Stefan Szymanski, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2024

The others, like Amazon, have been more deferential in working with the EU to avoid the kind of tension that Apple has faced, notes Axios senior tech policy reporter Ashley Gold. —Pete Gannon, Axios, 19 Sep. 2024

Throughout the encounter, that woman and the other man were deferential and apologetic to the officers. —Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 2 Aug. 2024