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.

Until the 1960s, most broadcasting was dry and deferential.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 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

Fully autonomous driving will worsen traffic conditions for a time, he argues, introducing cars that will be too deferential and unable to coordinate with other drivers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

So the collaborative feel of “Mr. Scorsese,” which often tips toward the deferential, is not surprising.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2025

They don’t see any hierarchical gap between themselves and the pilots in the air, and to them, mitigated speech from a pilot doesn’t mean the speaker is being appropriately deferential to a superior.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell