Mean
Mean adjective - Being about midway between extremes of amount or size.
Respectful is an antonym for mean.
Respectful
Respectful adjective - Marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status.
Both words in one sentence
- In the original Japanese, this would mean that they had just downshifted their speech to a less respectful level.
Source: Horrible Judge of Character -
That doesn't mean she needs to be respectful about it.
Source: Podcast / Wolf 359 -
Subverted by Felix, who despite the main character of the film being the embodiment of Mean Character, Nice Actor, is actually the only character in their game who is nice and respectful to Ralph.
Source: Disney / Wreck-It Ralph
Cite this Source
Respectful and Mean. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/mean/respectful
Mean & Respectful. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/mean/respectful>.
Respectful or Mean. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/mean/respectful.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "mean" and "respectful" have occurred on timeline