Picking a respect synonym means checking two things: how strong the feeling is and whether you mean a noun or a verb. For the noun, esteem, regard, admiration, honor and deference cover most needs. For the verb, try admire, value or look up to.
Respect also has a rule sense (respect the speed limit) and a detail sense (in that respect). Each one needs a different replacement, so each another word for respect below sits under its own meaning, with notes that explain the shades, then antonyms and common traps.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
esteem, regard, admiration, honorPart of speech
Noun and verbMost formal
deference, venerationMost casual
look up to, props (slang)Strongest
reverence, aweAntonyms
disrespect, contempt, disdainWatch out
Deference means giving way to someone, not only liking them.Word forms covered
respects, respected, respecting, respectful
Each respect synonym set, by meaning
Respect wears several hats. Spot the one it wears in your line, then grab a word from the matching row.
| Meaning | Try | Sample line |
|---|---|---|
| Good opinion of a person | esteem, regard, admiration | Her peers hold her in high esteem. |
| Deep, near-sacred feeling | reverence, veneration, awe | Visitors speak of the old forest with reverence. |
| Polite behavior | courtesy, consideration, civility | Show some consideration for the neighbors. |
| Verb: think well of | admire, value, look up to | Many juniors look up to the head nurse. |
| Verb: keep a rule | obey, observe, abide by | Drivers must observe the school zone limit. |
| A detail | way, aspect, sense | In one way, the plan is better. |
Weak to intense: reading the chip strip
The colored chips climb from regard to awe. Regard is calm and a little formal; it often appears in sign-offs like kind regards. Esteem adds warmth and suggests a reputation built over time. Admiration is personal: you saw something and were impressed. Reverence belongs to elders, traditions and holy places. Awe mixes respect with wonder and a touch of fear.
Go no higher on the dial than the truth allows. Calling a manager's spreadsheet skills a source of awe will sound like a joke.
Before and after: respect swapped in sentences
- I have a lot of respect for my coach becomes I have great admiration for my coach.
- The firm earned the respect of its clients becomes the firm earned the trust and esteem of its clients.
- Please respect the quiet hours becomes please observe the quiet hours.
- We respect your privacy becomes we value your privacy.
- The students respected the old teacher becomes the students revered the old teacher.
- In this respect, the two cities differ becomes in this regard, the two cities differ.
A thank-you note reads: "I respect your work and respect your time." Trading the repeated verb for a fresh one fixes it: "I admire your work and value your time." Both words are warm, and value fits time far better than admire would.
Respected, respecting and respectful
The other forms need their own choices.
- Respected (adjective): esteemed, admired, well-regarded, highly thought of, reputable. A reputable builder; an esteemed scholar.
- Respecting (verb form): honoring, observing, valuing. Honoring the agreement; observing local customs.
- Respectful: polite, courteous, considerate, deferential, civil. Deferential is the strongest and can hint at too much humility.
- Respects (plural noun, as in pay your respects): condolences, regards, greetings, compliments.
Respect often travels with gentle behavior, and the kindness synonyms and compassion synonyms pages are close neighbors.
Respect in essays, letters, tributes and chat
Academic writing: esteem, regard and deference read well. The phrase held in high regard is common in reviews of research.
Cover letters and work email: value and appreciate are safest. "I value the trust your team places in its staff" sounds sincere without flattery. Our resume and work words section lists more.
Speeches and tributes: admiration, honor and reverence carry the weight a eulogy or award night needs.
Casual talk: look up to, think the world of, and the slang props all sound relaxed.
Traps: near misses that shift the meaning
Fear is not respect, even though people sometimes blur them. Worship goes too far for a colleague. Deference means yielding to someone's view, so "I have deference for my sister" sounds stiff unless you mean you let her decide. Recognition is about being noticed, not admired. And for the rule sense, accept is weaker than observe: you can accept a rule and still break it.
Opposites of respect
Disrespect is the plain antonym. Rudeness describes behavior, disregard means ignoring, and contempt, disdain and scorn show active dislike. For the verb, try defy, flout or ignore.
- He showed disdain for the rules.
- Some riders flout the helmet law.
The rude synonyms page covers the behavior side, and honor synonyms covers the verb's formal side. For more word pages, start at home.
Frequently asked questions
Can esteem or regard stand in for respect?
Yes. Esteem, regard and admiration are the closest nouns. For the verb, admire, value and look up to work in most sentences.
Which words carry more weight than respect?
Reverence, veneration and awe are stronger. Keep them for elders, great achievements or sacred things, since they sound excessive in everyday praise.
Which respect synonym sounds most formal?
Esteem and deference are the most formal. Esteem is about high opinion, while deference means you yield to someone's judgment or rank.
Can I use honor instead of respect?
Often, yes. Honor a promise and respect a promise mean the same. As a noun, honor is more ceremonial: it is an honor to meet you sounds grander than I respect you.
What is the opposite of respect?
Disrespect is the direct opposite. Contempt and disdain are stronger and show that someone looks down on another person.
What word means showing respect?
Respectful, courteous and considerate describe the behavior. Deferential is a formal choice for showing respect to rank or age.