deferential
Showing humble respect
Deferential describes behavior that shows respect and yields to another's judgment or wishes.
A deferential employee doesn't challenge the boss; a deferential tone acknowledges someone's superior position or expertise.
The word suggests conscious deference rather than mere politeness: He was deferential to the older scientists, rarely offering his own opinions.
Following commands willingly
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- acquiescentAccepting without resistance
- docileEasily controlled or taught
servile · obsequious · biddable · tractable · meek · passive · yielding · unassertive
Showing proper regard
- politeShowing good manners
- mannerlyHaving good social conduct
- considerateMindful of others' needs
- graciousPleasantly kind and courteous
civil · tactful · diplomatic · well-mannered · decorous · genteel · courtly · obliging
Lacking in pretension
- unassumingNot making claims
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- meekHumbly unassertive
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
lowly · demure · retiring · reserved · unobtrusive · understated · diffident · self-deprecating
Showing proper regard
- veneratingRegarding with deep respect
- admiringFeeling respect and approval
- honoringRecognizing with respect
- esteemingRegarding with respect
regardful · reverential · awed · worshipful · devout · pious · dutiful · faithful
Willing to help others
- agreeablePleasantly cooperative
- amenableWilling to comply
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
- flexibleAble to bend freely
adaptable · pliant · willing · complaisant · indulgent · conciliatory · nonconfrontational · complying
obedient
Following commands willingly
- compliantYielding to others' wishes
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- acquiescentAccepting without resistance
docile · servile · obsequious · biddable · tractable · meek · passive · yielding · unassertive · sycophantic
respectful
Showing proper regard
- politeShowing good manners
- mannerlyHaving good social conduct
- considerateMindful of others' needs
gracious · civil · tactful · diplomatic · well-mannered · decorous · genteel · courtly · obliging · solicitous
modest
Lacking in pretension
- unassumingNot making claims
- self-effacingDownplaying one's own importance
- meekHumbly unassertive
unpretentious · lowly · demure · retiring · reserved · unobtrusive · understated · diffident · self-deprecating · down-to-earth
respectful
Showing proper regard
- veneratingRegarding with deep respect
- admiringFeeling respect and approval
- honoringRecognizing with respect
esteeming · regardful · reverential · awed · worshipful · devout · pious · dutiful · faithful · devoted
obliging
Willing to help others
- agreeablePleasantly cooperative
- amenableWilling to comply
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
flexible · adaptable · pliant · willing · complaisant · indulgent · conciliatory · nonconfrontational · complying · assenting
- mannersetiquette, manners, polite, rude, politeness
- gentlegentle, mild, soft, tender, meek
- submissivesubmissive, subservient, obedient, servile, docile
- passivedocile, meek, submissive, compliant, subdued
- timiditybashfulness, shyness, timidness, timorousness, meekness
- deferencebow, curtsy, genuflect, kneeling, obeisance
deferentialdisrespectful
Showing lack of regard
contemptuous · insolent · scornful · impudent · disdainful
deferentialassertive
Confidently self-assured
domineering · arrogant · demanding · dominant · commanding
deferentialdefiant
Openly resisting control
insubordinate · disobedient · rebellious · noncompliant · undutiful