Meaning & use
deeply respectful
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Showing a very strong feeling of admiration and polite regard for someone or something.
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like be, seem, or feel, and usually followed by of or toward before the person or thing.
Patterns
- deeply respectful of someone
- deeply respectful toward someone
- be deeply respectful to someone
The students were deeply respectful of their teacher's experience.
He stayed deeply respectful toward his parents even when they disagreed.
Her tone was deeply respectful, never mocking.
adjectivecomparable
Showing great care not to offend a person, culture, or belief.
Grammar: Often describes behavior, language, or a way of treating something sacred or sensitive.
Patterns
- deeply respectful language
- deeply respectful of a tradition
The documentary is deeply respectful of local customs.
They chose deeply respectful words when discussing the loss.
Word forms
| comparative | more deeply respectful |
|---|---|
| superlative | most deeply respectful |
Common combinations
- deeply respectful of
- She is deeply respectful of other people's privacy.
- deeply respectful toward
- The staff remained deeply respectful toward every guest.
- deeply respectful tone
- He answered in a deeply respectful tone.
- remain deeply respectful
- Please remain deeply respectful during the ceremony.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reverent
- Stronger and more formal; it suggests almost religious awe, while 'deeply respectful' is broader and can describe everyday politeness.
- deferential
- Focuses on giving way to someone's wishes or authority, whereas 'deeply respectful' is simply about showing regard.
- courteous
- Means polite in manner; it does not carry the intensity that 'deeply' adds.
Opposites
Word family
- respect noun
- The feeling or show of admiration for someone.
- respectful adjective
- Showing respect; the base form of this phrase.
- respectfully adverb
- In a way that shows respect.
Commonly confused: deeply respectful or respective?
deeply respectful vs respective
'Respective' means belonging separately to each person ('their respective seats'), while 'respectful' is about showing respect.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'deeply respectful' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Deeply respectful of someone' is the natural pattern. Option 2 wrongly uses an infinitive after the adjective, option 3 omits the verb 'was', and option 4 puts the adverb in an unnatural position.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “deeply respectful”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.