Respectful willingness to give weight to another person's judgment, wishes, or experience.
Reach for it when recognizing when respect leads someone to yield space or priority without surrendering all judgment
In deference to residents, the planners moved the listening session into the neighborhood.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| professional | |
| formal |
|
| literary |
everyday
Fits when valuing another person's rights, ability, or standing is enough
Careful Respect does not necessarily involve yielding a choice, turn, or priority.
professional
Fits when polite consideration shapes behavior
Careful Courtesy may be conventional good manners rather than recognition of superior knowledge or standing.
formal
acquiescence
Fits when someone accepts a decision without active objection
Careful Acquiescence may be reluctant or passive and does not prove genuine respect.
formal
Fits when thoughtful consideration for wishes or circumstances matters
Careful Regard can mean esteem or attention without the act of yielding implied by deference.
formal
submission
Fits when one party accepts another's authority or control
Careful Submission removes agency and is wrong for voluntary, limited respect between equals.
literary
Fits when profound respect for something sacred or deeply honored is intended
Careful Reverence reaches toward devotion, which overstates ordinary professional respect.
out of deference
Out of deference to the family, reporters waited until the announcement was complete.
show deference
New members showed deference to the technicians who understood the old system.
deference to experience
Deference to experience did not prevent the apprentices from asking careful questions.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Whomping Walrus, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated
Your browser isn't saving lists, so this one will be cleared when you leave the page.