deferential
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He’s definitely being deferential to Woody, and yet he’s pushing him.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
“He could come across as self-effacing and deferential, but in Don’s skilled hands those were qualities that made him an enormously strong and effective leader,” Boccardi said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
The justices are appointed by the Assembly, and are traditionally quite deferential to it.
From Slate ● Apr. 24, 2026
"He was intensely serious but showed flashes of humour. He encouraged debate although his officers were deferential," Pike wrote in a 2019 book.
From Barron's ● Jan. 12, 2026
And he quit playing because their subtle deferential treatment made him nervous.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
Vocabulary lists containing deferential
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