Definition of respectablenext
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as in decent
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards the artwork that we commissioned from the muralist turned out to be respectable but was not quite what we had hoped for

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of respectable Washington’s tank job in 2025-26 worked, and their core for the future is looking at least respectable with Anthony Davis and Trae Young in tow. Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026 Adams was so frugal that his friends bought him more respectable clothes. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 9 May 2026 The result, streaming Friday on Netflix, is respectable and heartfelt, a very straightforward page to screen interpretation that gets the job done and the tears flowing thanks to strong performances by Sally Field and Lewis Pullman. ABC News, 7 May 2026 Webster should have freedom to navigate what seems to be another attempt to nudge the Raptors from respectable to excellent. Eric Koreen, New York Times, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for respectable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respectable
Adjective
  • By the end of the season, with respected offensive line coach James Campen leading the development, maybe this group is in the right spot.
    Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • Doucet, who has had a long career as a respected media personality, echoed that sentiment and noted that there were small ways in which her abuser chipped at her esteem, such as convincing her that people said negative remarks about her.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • Interpreted in this light, silence evolved to signify the very condition of being an honorable man who was capable of maintaining omertà.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
  • Either way, Netflix respectfully disagrees with the honorable gentleman from the former Republic of Texas, to put it nicely.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 11 May 2026
Adjective
  • Films that would once have sparked competitive bidding are screening to polite attention and noncommittal follow-up meetings.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
  • The old-school kind where everybody is mostly well-behaved and polite, and the audience scrolls on their phones to stay awake.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • England, in theory, have players who can offer a decent facsimile of this (Elliot Anderson and Ezri Konsa, in particular), but Tuchel seems inclined to build his England squad around striker and captain Harry Kane over anyone else.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Madrid has failed to win a single major honor since Mbappé arrived at the club, and despite having a decent season based on statistics, there are calls from some Madrid fans to sell their star man.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • The decision to run it back has been met with considerable skepticism — and reasonably so.
    Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • Also, again, the last one also very considerable amount of money on arms sales.
    CBS News, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Adjective
  • The Manchester United under-18s manager watched his side suffer a 2-1 defeat by Oliver Reiss’ Manchester City in the final of the prestigious youth competition, which was the first between the two clubs since 1986.
    Chris McKenna, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • Kids who take the spot of a potential American student to attend some of America’s most prestigious colleges, and then go back home.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • Colicchio is honest enough to walk up to that line and examine it.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 May 2026
  • Because either McCluskie is one heck of a con man who rolled both Becerra and Williamson, making both believe what was happening was kosher with entirely different tales, or someone isn’t being entirely honest.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • After all, the key to a flawless beat is proper skincare application!
    Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 May 2026
  • Sit down at a proper meal table (not your desk or the car), put your snack on a plate or in a bowl, and take a breath to center yourself before taking the first bite.
    Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Respectable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respectable. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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