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deferential

[def-uh-ren-shuhl] / ˌdɛf əˈrɛn ʃəl /


Example Sentences

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Most interesting to me was the second category—group dynamics—which captures factors that are tricky to measure, such as, is a given board likely to be overly deferential to its CEO, management or each other?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

"She could never believe how Freddie had such beautiful manners and he was always so deferential and polite and how his trousers were always immaculately creased," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

He’s definitely being deferential to Woody, and yet he’s pushing him.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

The justices are appointed by the Assembly, and are traditionally quite deferential to it.

From Slate ● Apr. 24, 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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