as in obedience
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others
the sycophantic deference with which the hotel treats celebrity guests
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Recent Examples of deference
This is a choice that New Delhi can and should make for its own reasons, not out of deference to Washington.
—
Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
When adjudicating a request filed on Form I-129 involving the same parties and the same underlying facts, USCIS gives deference to its prior determination of the petitioner’s, applicant's, or beneficiary's eligibility.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
In these works by professional authors, there’s a deference to children that’s absent from their media-savvy counterparts.
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
The committee also showed too much deference to SMU, the ACC runner-up.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deference
Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
When adjudicating a request filed on Form I-129 involving the same parties and the same underlying facts, USCIS gives deference to its prior determination of the petitioner’s, applicant's, or beneficiary's eligibility.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
In these works by professional authors, there’s a deference to children that’s absent from their media-savvy counterparts.
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
The committee also showed too much deference to SMU, the ACC runner-up.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deference
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deference
Noun
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Her two pups are part of the Protection Sport Association, which competitively tests dogs in their obedience and protection skills through tests of their temperament and physical ability.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
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Even if your furry friend has already mastered the obedience basics, try adding some new party tricks to their command repertoire.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Yet, the lesson of the Voting Rights Act is that the response to these setbacks isn’t despair or acquiescence.—
Time,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this revenge is the acquiescence of his support base and the GOP representatives to the raw hatred unleashed by our Emir of Evil.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deference.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deference. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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