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Synonyms

respectable

American  
[ri-spek-tuh-buhl] / rɪˈspɛk tə bəl /

adjective

  1. worthy of respect or esteem; estimable; worthy.

    a respectable citizen.

    Synonyms:
    honorable
  2. of good social standing, reputation, etc..

    a respectable neighborhood.

  3. suitable or good enough to be seen or used.

    respectable clothes; respectable language.

  4. of moderate excellence; fairly good; fair.

    a respectable performance.

    Synonyms:
    passable, middling
  5. appreciable in size, number, or amount.

    a respectable turnout.


respectable British  
/ rɪˈspɛktəbəl /

adjective

  1. having or deserving the respect of other people; estimable; worthy

  2. having good social standing or reputation

  3. having socially or conventionally acceptable morals, standards, etc

    a respectable woman

  4. relatively or fairly good; considerable

    a respectable salary

  5. fit to be seen by other people; presentable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonrespectable adjective
  • nonrespectableness noun
  • nonrespectably adverb
  • prerespectable adjective
  • quasi-respectable adjective
  • quasi-respectably adverb
  • respectability noun
  • respectableness noun
  • respectably adverb
  • semirespectable adjective
  • superrespectable adjective
  • superrespectableness noun
  • superrespectably adverb
  • ultrarespectable adjective
  • ultrarespectableness noun
  • ultrarespectably adverb
  • unrespectable adjective

Etymology

Origin of respectable

First recorded in 1580–90; respect + -able

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Still, a 3-2 defeat is more respectable than 4-1, and England have started brightly in their bid to further cut the deficit.

From BBC

It could be a premature sacking with Precheur's experience making him a respectable figure in the women's game.

From BBC

After its earlier respectable performance flagged in the past three years, more investors had been asking to cash out than the fund’s previous structure could accommodate.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both had respectable records on paper but little standing inside the sport, and neither has boxed since.

From BBC

While it may not have the decade-long reputation of some competitors, it delivers where it counts: strong privacy protections, reliable streaming access, respectable speeds and genuinely useful features at a price that’s hard to beat.

From Salon