deferential
adjective
def·er·en·tial
ˌde-fə-ˈren-chəl 
: showing or expressing respect and high regard due a superior or an elder : showing or expressing deference
listened with deferential attention to his grandfather
deferential to the judge's decision
Examples of deferential in a Sentence
the man had the deferential attitude of someone who had been a servant his entire life
Recent Examples on the Web
Although congressional Republicans have remained deferential to Trump, their patience appears to be wearing thin.
—
Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2025
Some see Jeffries and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer as too deferential to established norms or too reluctant to use procedural powers to slow down Trump’s agenda.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 May 2025
There's an attitude that the national security and defense community has to be sensitive and deferential to Elon Musk because of his role in the government.
—Mike Stone and Marisa Taylor, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
The meeting never devolved into the outburst that the public saw in Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was berated by the U.S. president and his team for not being sufficiently deferential.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2025
Some see Jeffries and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer as too deferential to established norms or too reluctant to use procedural powers to slow down Trump’s agenda.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 19 May 2025
There's an attitude that the national security and defense community has to be sensitive and deferential to Elon Musk because of his role in the government.
—Mike Stone and Marisa Taylor, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
The meeting never devolved into the outburst that the public saw in Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was berated by the U.S. president and his team for not being sufficiently deferential.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deferential
Cite this Entry
“Deferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deferential. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
deferential
adjective
def·er·en·tial
ˌdef-ə-ˈren-chəl
: deferent
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share