deferential

adjective

def·​er·​en·​tial ˌde-fə-ˈren-chəl How to pronounce deferential (audio)
Synonyms of deferential
: 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
deferentially
ˌde-fə-ˈren-chə-lē How to pronounce deferential (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of deferential

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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
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.
The trial attorney was struck by how deferential the judge was to Cohn. — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Biden argued the administration had been too deferential to Wall Street and too cautious about confronting China over intellectual property theft. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 July 2026 To see a 17-year-old saying this in a culture like India, where the very young are sort of deferential, is remarkable. — Richard Hall, Time, 28 July 2026 And his answer was deferential to another candidate from the New York Yankees. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for deferential

Word History

Etymology

defer(ence) + -ential, by analogy with other Latin-derived words where the suffixes -ence and -ential imply one another (as prudence, prudential)

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deferential was in 1822

Rhymes for deferential

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Browse Nearby Words

deferent
deferential
deferentiality
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Cite this Entry

“Deferential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deferential. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

deferential

adjective
def·​er·​en·​tial ˌdef-ə-ˈren-chəl How to pronounce deferential (audio)
: showing or expressing deference
deferentially
-ˈrench-(ə-)lē How to pronounce deferential (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

deferential

adjective
def·​er·​en·​tial ˌdef-ə-ˈren-chəl How to pronounce deferential (audio)
: deferent

More from Merriam-Webster on deferential

Nglish: Translation of deferential for Spanish Speakers

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