How to Use respectful in a Sentence

respectful

adjective
  • Give her a respectful amount of time with a firm end-by date.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2024
  • And @janravnik is the best guy there is and so respectful.
    — Angela Andaloro, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • All the kids are very respectful.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
  • And the respectful piece was huge.
    — Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Most of the field is on private land so please be respectful.
    — Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 6 July 2023
  • Be sure to be respectful of the space and those praying.
    — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The city should be respectful to look at my offer and give me a chance.
    — David Showers, Arkansas Online, 20 July 2021
  • That’s the thing that people need to learn and be respectful of.
    — Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 21 June 2021
  • Yet, the new police force proved no more respectful of black lives.
    — Jonathan Daniel Wells, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Oct. 2020
  • That said, the gym works best when its members are respectful and kind.
    — Jenny McCoy, Outside, 2 Jan. 2026
  • Be respectful of the space and those praying.
    — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
  • What's a respectful yet firm way to let someone know their comments have crossed a line?
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024
  • So our approach has to be better and more respectful.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Be respectful, be open-minded, and be aware of the weight your words carry.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 25 Aug. 2022
  • The fans have been quite respectful about not giving out spoilers.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 1 May 2025
  • Second, seek out mentors and guides, but be respectful of their time.
    — Expert Panel, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2021
  • Dales said the tourists, so far, have been very respectful of the habitat and of each other.
    — Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 May 2021
  • The mood was sombre and respectful.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Be better, take the high ground, be respectful, obey the laws, help your neighbor.
    — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • People have been respectful of the table so far.
    — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The two daughters were good to their parents, very respectful.
    — Eve Sampson, Detroit Free Press, 2 June 2022
  • Be respectful and follow the rules.
    — Cate Charron, IndyStar, 30 Dec. 2025
  • Simply being present and respectful goes a long way.
    — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The key is to be respectful of his space and do away with expectations.
    — Annie Lane, oregonlive, 8 Aug. 2020
  • Visitors are asked to be respectful of those who are praying in the church.
    — Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2021
  • In short, a sober, respectful profile for this affair.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Garrett stuck with coach speak and was respectful of the questions by the media.
    — Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The cast was really respectful and gracious with me, and gave me the space to get in the zone.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025
  • Most of our neighbors are really nice and have been respectful (for the most part).
    — Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2020
  • Keep your eyes peeled for friction-causing patterns, then bring them up in a respectful way.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'respectful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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