Deferential
adjective
Showing respect and being polite to someone, especially someone in a higher position.
The employee was very deferential towards his boss.
Often appears as...
- deferential attitude
- deferential manner
adjective
Showing respect and being polite to someone, especially someone in a higher position.
The employee was very deferential towards his boss.
Often appears as...
- deferential attitude
- deferential manner
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Respect for Authority
Use 'deferential' to show clear respect for someone with power or an important position, like a judge or elder.
When addressing the director, the committee used a deferential tone.
Pro Tip 2/3Politeness Matters
Being deferential is not just about respect, it's about politeness, which affects how you say something.
Her deferential reply to the professor showed she valued his opinion.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Positive
Sometimes 'deferential' can imply too much submission and thus be seen as a negative trait in certain contexts.
The employee's deferential behavior was viewed as a lack of confidence in his own ideas.
Pro Tip 1/3Respect for Authority
Use 'deferential' to show clear respect for someone with power or an important position, like a judge or elder.
When addressing the director, the committee used a deferential tone.
Pro Tip 2/3Politeness Matters
Being deferential is not just about respect, it's about politeness, which affects how you say something.
Her deferential reply to the professor showed she valued his opinion.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Positive
Sometimes 'deferential' can imply too much submission and thus be seen as a negative trait in certain contexts.
The employee's deferential behavior was viewed as a lack of confidence in his own ideas.
Pro Tip 1/3Respect for Authority
Use 'deferential' to show clear respect for someone with power or an important position, like a judge or elder.
When addressing the director, the committee used a deferential tone.
Pro Tip 2/3Politeness Matters
Being deferential is not just about respect, it's about politeness, which affects how you say something.
Her deferential reply to the professor showed she valued his opinion.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Positive
Sometimes 'deferential' can imply too much submission and thus be seen as a negative trait in certain contexts.
The employee's deferential behavior was viewed as a lack of confidence in his own ideas.
Compare with
acquiescentattentivecomplaisantdocileobedientrespectfulreverentialsubmissive
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Video examples
The Likability Dilemma...
when we behave in ways that violate gender norms. Our gender stereotypes show that women should be kind, nurturing, helpful, supportive, deferential, while traditionally men are expected to be decisive, competent, assertive and strong.
Video examples
The Likability Dilemma...
when we behave in ways that violate gender norms. Our gender stereotypes show that women should be kind, nurturing, helpful, supportive, deferential, while traditionally men are expected to be decisive, competent, assertive and strong.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Christopher Voss
American Businessman
There's great power in deference. You ask somebody 'what' or 'how' questions. People love to be asked how to do something. They feel powerful, and from a deferential position, you've actually granted that power, and you're the one that now actually has the upper hand in the conversation.
Quote examples
Zbigniew Brzezinski
American Politician
I have been struck by the pervasive frequency of pompously patriotic ads for the defense industry, usually accompanied by deferential salutations to our men and women who are heroically sacrificing their lives in our defense. Do we really need all of that for our security?
Quote examples
Denise Morrison
American Businesswoman
Through his deferential yet decidedly determined demeanor, Pope Francis is not only setting a superior spiritual standard, but he is also leading a thorough transformation of the Catholic Church - rivaling any brand revitalization or corporate turnaround you could name.
Quote examples
Shelby Steele
American Author
Since the 1960s, when America finally became fully accountable for its past, deference toward all groups with any claim to past or present victimization became mandatory. The Great Society and the War on Poverty were some of the first truly deferential policies.
Quote examples
David Stern
American Businessman
I've never found NBA owners to be deferential. I never considered them to be reliant. All that I do is knock myself out to represent their interests the best way I can and sometimes tell them, as part of my job, what they don't like to hear.
Quote examples
Peter Morgan
British Writer
Authorised royal biographers are so straitjacketed, deferential, fawning, and unadventurous that they can only be after a knighthood. Or they're completely scurrilous and insolent, like Andrew Morton or Paul Burrell.
Quote examples
Heather Brooke
American Journalist
When I came to Britain I was in awe of the British press, afraid of them. But they're not as ferocious as people think. In some instances they are, but when it comes to taking on power they're really deferential.
Quote examples
Porter Robinson
American Musician
I had a lot of self-doubt when I started. And I still do. But I had a lot of the wrong kind of self-doubt when I first started making music and first started to tour. I think I was a little bit deferential.
Quote examples
James Cameron
American Director
I've tried not to get sucked into the Hollywood hierarchy system. Personally, I don't like it when people are deferential to me because I'm an established filmmaker. It's a blue-collar sensibility.
Quote examples
Noreena Hertz
English Author
Stress makes us prone to tunnel vision, less likely to take in the information we need. Anxiety makes us more risk-averse than we would be regularly and more deferential.
Quote examples
Christopher Voss
American Businessman
There's great power in deference. You ask somebody 'what' or 'how' questions. People love to be asked how to do something. They feel powerful, and from a deferential position, you've actually granted that power, and you're the one that now actually has the upper hand in the conversation.
Quote examples
Zbigniew Brzezinski
American Politician
I have been struck by the pervasive frequency of pompously patriotic ads for the defense industry, usually accompanied by deferential salutations to our men and women who are heroically sacrificing their lives in our defense. Do we really need all of that for our security?
Quote examples
Denise Morrison
American Businesswoman
Through his deferential yet decidedly determined demeanor, Pope Francis is not only setting a superior spiritual standard, but he is also leading a thorough transformation of the Catholic Church - rivaling any brand revitalization or corporate turnaround you could name.
Quote examples
Shelby Steele
American Author
Since the 1960s, when America finally became fully accountable for its past, deference toward all groups with any claim to past or present victimization became mandatory. The Great Society and the War on Poverty were some of the first truly deferential policies.
Quote examples
David Stern
American Businessman
I've never found NBA owners to be deferential. I never considered them to be reliant. All that I do is knock myself out to represent their interests the best way I can and sometimes tell them, as part of my job, what they don't like to hear.
Quote examples
Peter Morgan
British Writer
Authorised royal biographers are so straitjacketed, deferential, fawning, and unadventurous that they can only be after a knighthood. Or they're completely scurrilous and insolent, like Andrew Morton or Paul Burrell.
Quote examples
Heather Brooke
American Journalist
When I came to Britain I was in awe of the British press, afraid of them. But they're not as ferocious as people think. In some instances they are, but when it comes to taking on power they're really deferential.
Quote examples
Porter Robinson
American Musician
I had a lot of self-doubt when I started. And I still do. But I had a lot of the wrong kind of self-doubt when I first started making music and first started to tour. I think I was a little bit deferential.
Quote examples
James Cameron
American Director
I've tried not to get sucked into the Hollywood hierarchy system. Personally, I don't like it when people are deferential to me because I'm an established filmmaker. It's a blue-collar sensibility.
Quote examples
Noreena Hertz
English Author
Stress makes us prone to tunnel vision, less likely to take in the information we need. Anxiety makes us more risk-averse than we would be regularly and more deferential.
Example 1 of 10
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