Deferential and Scornful

Opposite meaning words

Deferential adjective - Marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status.

Usage example: the man had the deferential attitude of someone who had been a servant his entire life

Show all Definitions

Scornful is an antonym for deferential.

Scornful adjective - Feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern.

Usage example: the actress gave the paparazzi a scornful glare before breezing on by them

Show all Definitions

Deferential is an antonym for scornful.

Nearby Words: scorn, scorned, scornfully, scorning

Cite this Source

Scornful and Deferential. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/deferential/scornful

Deferential & Scornful. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/deferential/scornful>.

Scornful or Deferential. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/deferential/scornful.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "deferential" and "scornful" have occurred on timeline