as in obedience
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others
the sycophantic deference with which the hotel treats celebrity guests
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Recent Examples of deference
Fed officials are not entitled to the same special deference in their stewardship of public monies…or in bank regulatory and supervisory policy…or in areas affecting international finance, among other matters.
—
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
In the spirit of deference, Driver drew inspiration from the interiors of Kappe’s own landmark Rustic Canyon house—designed at roughly the same time, between 1965 and ’67—which changed hands for the first time in a high-profile sale earlier this year.
—Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2026
Since the start of the Korean War, however, members of Congress have demonstrated more deference and less assertiveness.
—Robert Haswell, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
In spite of a seismic crossing of the technological Rubicon, an abandonment of the centuries-old deference to the naked eye, a codifying and calcifying of the most atomic-level building block of the sport, baseball mostly just looked like baseball.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deference
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
In the spirit of deference, Driver drew inspiration from the interiors of Kappe’s own landmark Rustic Canyon house—designed at roughly the same time, between 1965 and ’67—which changed hands for the first time in a high-profile sale earlier this year.
—Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2026
Since the start of the Korean War, however, members of Congress have demonstrated more deference and less assertiveness.
—Robert Haswell, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
In spite of a seismic crossing of the technological Rubicon, an abandonment of the centuries-old deference to the naked eye, a codifying and calcifying of the most atomic-level building block of the sport, baseball mostly just looked like baseball.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deference
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deference
Noun
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As a child performing with his brothers at the family home in Gary, Indiana, young Michael (Juliano Krue Valdi) is beaten by his father, Joe (Colman Domingo), who demands obedience along with musical discipline.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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As firefighter after firefighter testified about their actions during the Lachman fire, a clear theme emerged — the Los Angeles Fire Department’s culture of absolute obedience.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But as the sexist and racist nature of the MAGA machine has gained mainstream acquiescence if not acceptance, the need to keep up the appearance of diversity is less and less.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Moss’ dour expression, over-relied upon for silent exposition throughout six seasons, conveys terror in the here and now, as well as for a future where fear is replaced by acquiescence.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But for Coles, his indoctrination to law enforcement has been a different level of submissiveness.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
-
In Killers of the Flower Moon, his Ernest Burkhart starts off as a mopey, weak-minded World War One veteran, eager to do anything for his godfather uncle (Robert De Niro), but there’s still a certain likability to his dim-bulb submissiveness.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deference.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deference. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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