as in respectful
marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status
the family showed a dutiful deference to their minister when he came to dinner
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Recent Examples of dutiful
Colón will play Miguel, a dutiful cowboy who is quiet but formidable.
—
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Your dutiful correspondent’s first impression of his favorite place on earth upon returning here for his 37th home opener wasn’t about the deep green or brilliant blue or enduring mountainscape.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Effort meets order as the radiant Sun conjoins dutiful Saturn in your 6th House of Health, guiding consistent routines.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Her son, Navaraj, is obedient and dutiful.
—Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dutiful
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Your dutiful correspondent’s first impression of his favorite place on earth upon returning here for his 37th home opener wasn’t about the deep green or brilliant blue or enduring mountainscape.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Effort meets order as the radiant Sun conjoins dutiful Saturn in your 6th House of Health, guiding consistent routines.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Her son, Navaraj, is obedient and dutiful.
—Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dutiful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dutiful
Adjective
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Survivor, which is shot mainly on Mana Island with the cast staying on satellite islands, has been respectful and donated to the organization.—
MIchelle Duff,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
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Be respectful of the space and those praying.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Ptolemaic model depicted planets moving around Earth in a big circle, known as a deferent, then going around a smaller circle while retrograding, called an epicycle.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
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And many advocates are promoting a vision of public health that’s less dependent on mandates and appeals to authority, and more deferent to individuals’ beliefs.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dutiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dutiful. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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