Synonyms for respectful
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Polite
polite, reverent, courteous, reverential, deferential, gentle, obedient, dutiful, civil, decorous, worshipful UK, ceremonious, mannerly, complaisant, regardful, gracious, attentive, affable, obliging, urbane
Other
honorific
Definitions
- adj. 1
Marked or characterized by respect
They used highly respectful language when conversing with the elders.
From weakest to strongest
From the opposite of respectful, on the left, to its strongest synonyms, on the right.
Example sentences
- polite My mother taught me that it's not polite to point.
- courteous Tom told me that he hoped Mary would be courteous.
- reverent With deep and reverent awe I replaced the candelabrum in its former position.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| respectful | rising | |
| polite | rising | |
| courteous | steady | |
| reverent | rising | |
| reverential | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- civil2
- 6 letters
- gentle2, polite2, urbane2
- 7 letters
- affable3, dutiful3
- 8 letters
- gracious2, obedient4, obliging3, reverent3, decorous3, mannerly
- 9 letters
- attentive3, courteous3, honorific4, regardful
- 10 letters
- worshipful3
- 11 letters
- deferential4, reverential4, ceremonious, complaisant3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (civil2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- respectueux
- Italiano
- rispettoso
- Español
- respetuoso
- Deutsch
- ehrerbietig
- Català
- respectuós