respectable
1 of 2adjective
re·spect·able ri-ˈspek-tə-bəl 
1
: worthy of respect : estimable
2
: decent or correct in character or behavior : proper
3
a
: fair in size or quantity
a respectable amount
b
: moderately good : tolerable
4
: fit to be seen : presentable
respectable clothes
respectability
ri-ˌspek-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun respectableness
ri-ˈspek-tə-bəl-nəs
noun respectably
ri-ˈspek-tə-blē
adverb respectable
2 of 2noun
: a respectable person
Synonyms
Adjective
- esteemed
- estimable
- name
- prestigious
- recognized
- reputable
- reputed
- respected
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective She comes from a very respectable family. no respectable dietician would advise people to eat just one kind of food
Recent Examples on the Web
Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022 The craft behind them is absolutely respectable, and if sushi appeals to you as part of the meal, go for it. Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Sorry, Huskies, your football program is respectable, but the SEC is not for you. Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 7 July 2022 Biden, who entered office with a respectable 53.6 percent, fell below 50 percent in August 2021 and has been in the low 40s since January. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 13 May 2022 The lefty has moved to the rotation after starting the season in the bullpen and has had very little decision luck, a respectable 4.38 ERA affording Ashby just a 2-8 record on the year. Amin Touri, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2022 Grading website Pro Football Focus gave Harris a respectable grade just north of 70 and a pass-blocking grade of 75.3. Dan Labbe, cleveland, 29 July 2022 Baby food has weaker, if still respectable, prospects. Carol Ryan, WSJ, 27 July 2022 Still, the new CPU is a respectable step up in performance from the 10th-generation Core i5 in the first Laptop Go, especially in graphics performance. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 20 July 2022 Sean Wilentz, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2017 See More
Adjective
That’s up notably from last year ($1.63 billion) and down a respectable 21 percent from 2019. Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022 The craft behind them is absolutely respectable, and if sushi appeals to you as part of the meal, go for it. Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Sorry, Huskies, your football program is respectable, but the SEC is not for you. Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 7 July 2022 Biden, who entered office with a respectable 53.6 percent, fell below 50 percent in August 2021 and has been in the low 40s since January. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 13 May 2022 The lefty has moved to the rotation after starting the season in the bullpen and has had very little decision luck, a respectable 4.38 ERA affording Ashby just a 2-8 record on the year. Amin Touri, BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2022 Grading website Pro Football Focus gave Harris a respectable grade just north of 70 and a pass-blocking grade of 75.3. Dan Labbe, cleveland, 29 July 2022 Baby food has weaker, if still respectable, prospects. Carol Ryan, WSJ, 27 July 2022 Still, the new CPU is a respectable step up in performance from the 10th-generation Core i5 in the first Laptop Go, especially in graphics performance. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 20 July 2022 Noun
Shaken respectables thought the Paris Commune had crossed the Atlantic. Sean Wilentz, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1814, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
respectable
adjective
re·spect·able ri-ˈspek-tə-bəl
1
: decent or correct in conduct : proper
They're respectable people.
2
: fit to be seen : presentable
Wear something respectable.
3
: deserving high regard
She acted in a respectable manner.
4
: fair in size or quantity
We collected a respectable amount.
respectable
adjective
1
as in respected
having a good reputation especially in a field of knowledge no respectable dietician would advise people to eat just one kind of food Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- respected
- reputable
- prestigious
- esteemed
- reputed
- estimable
- honorable
- distinguished
- creditable
- name
- worthy
- recognized
- renowned
- prominent
- good
- famous
- venerable
- praiseworthy
- famed
- notable
- illustrious
- celebrated
- honored
- redoubtable
- well-known
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disreputable
- shadowy
- undistinguished
- seedy
- shady
- unknown
- obscure
- no-name
2
as in honorable
following the accepted rules of moral conduct cheating is not a respectable thing to do under any circumstances Synonyms & Similar Words
- honorable
- honest
- decent
- ethical
- noble
- upstanding
- principled
- upright
- good
- righteous
- nice
- just
- respected
- conscientious
- irreproachable
- unimpeachable
- proper
- classy
- unassailable
- reputable
- virtuous
- polite
- moral
- blameless
- stand-up
- chivalrous
- guiltless
- scrupulous
- decorous
- fair
- right-minded
- high-minded
- incorruptible
- seemly
- uncorrupted
- menschy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- low
- unworthy
- ignoble
- dishonorable
- dishonest
- unprincipled
- unethical
- criminal
- base
- bad
- unjust
- reprehensible
- evil
- immoral
- sinful
- nefarious
- rotten
- roguish
- crooked
- iniquitous
- unscrupulous
- unrighteous
- mean
- wretched
- corrupt
- vile
- wicked
- unfair
- villainous
- rascally
- knavish
- culpable
- disgraceful
- shameful
- censurable
- loose
- scoundrelly
- dissolute
- degenerate
- depraved
- blameworthy
- degraded
- blamable
- blackguardly
- perverse
- debauched
- perverted
- debased
- profligate
- libertine
- decadent
- venal
- disreputable
- demoralized
- dissipated
- reprobate
3
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste has the respectable manners of someone who was well brought up Synonyms & Similar Words
- polite
- proper
- satisfactory
- acceptable
- decent
- nice
- decorous
- correct
- adequate
- formal
- elegant
- dress
- befitting
- seemly
- genteel
- dignified
- tolerable
- gracious
- relevant
- de rigueur
- congenial
- prim
- apt
- authorized
- allowed
- permitted
- material
- compatible
- priggish
- dressy
- harmonious
- kosher
- stuffy
- stiff
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- improper
- unsatisfactory
- indecent
- unacceptable
- casual
- unseemly
- inappropriate
- informal
- unbecoming
- intolerable
- incorrect
- shabby
- indelicate
- indecorous
- seedy
- tacky
- ungenteel
- barred
- forbidden
- prohibited
- grungy
- proscribed
- awkward
- disallowed
- gauche
- ungraceful
- outlawed
- banned
- interdicted
4
as in decent
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards the artwork that we commissioned from the muralist turned out to be respectable but was not quite what we had hoped for Synonyms & Similar Words
- decent
- adequate
- satisfactory
- good
- fine
- acceptable
- tolerable
- serviceable
- passable
- okay
- useful
- fairish
- suitable
- all right
- middling
- worthy
- average
- agreeable
- OK
- mediocre
- minimal
- endurable
- standard
- fair
- indifferent
- bearable
- unexceptional
- up to snuff
- ordinary
- appropriate
- satisfying
- proper
- sufferable
- fitting
- common
- correct
- seemly
- right
- so-so
- second-rate
- meet
- due
- gratifying
- run-of-the-mill
- run-of-the-mine
- run-of-mine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unsatisfactory
- unacceptable
- inadequate
- insufficient
- lacking
- unworthy
- disagreeable
- useless
- pitiful
- indecent
- deficient
- improper
- unsuitable
- wrong
- objectionable
- unfit
- bad
- cheap
- shoddy
- wanting
- imperfect
- lamentable
- poor
- meager
- short
- disreputable
- incomplete
- defective
- shabby
- meagre
- insufficient
- faulty
- skimpy
- miserly
- scanty
- great
- spare
- intolerable
- stingy
- mean
- exceptional
- splendid
- insufferable
- unbearable
- maximum
- special
- superior
- noble
- miserable
- atrocious
- vile
- wretched
- stellar
- optimum
- optimal
- superb
- terrific
- execrable
- extreme
- unendurable
- supreme
- wonderful
- peerless
- top
- fancy
- neat
- exquisite
- dissatisfying
- unparalleled
- premium
- prime
- superlative
- sensational
- matchless
- preeminent
- marvelous
- dandy
- marvellous
- sterling
- grand
- fabulous
- classic
- unmatched
- divine
- heavenly
- nifty
- unsurpassed
- keen
- swell
- mean
- first-class
- par excellence
- banner
- capital
- niggardly
- first-rate
- top-notch
- boss
- high-grade
- crackerjack
- groovy
- tip-top
- maximized
- bang-up
- supernal
- jim-dandy
- A1
5
as in sizable
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention got paid a respectable sum for speaking at our graduation Synonyms & Similar Words
- sizable
- considerable
- substantial
- significant
- good
- handsome
- healthy
- goodly
- tremendous
- great
- tidy
- major
- huge
- substantive
- largish
- big
- sizeable
- biggish
- massive
- hefty
- voluminous
- prodigious
- colossal
- gigantic
- hulking
- enormous
- bulky
- whopping
- astronomical
- monstrous
- outsize
- mammoth
- immense
- herculean
- outsized
- oversize
- titanic
- monumental
- elephantine
- oversized
- bumper
- astronomic
- jumbo
- king-sized
- king-size
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nominal
- negligible
- inconsiderable
- insignificant
- inconsequential
- paltry
- insubstantial
- meager
- marginal
- unimportant
- puny
- trivial
- petty
- meagre
- trifling
- small
- piddling
- slight
- tiny
- little
- measly
- minute
- smallish
- picayune
- diminutive
- undersized
- undersize
- picayunish
- miniature
- pocket
- bitty
- pygmy
- pint-sized
- pocket-sized
- pocket-size
- pint-size
- southern minke whale
- Southern Mongol
- southern moss
- southern mountain
- Southern Ocean
- Southern Oscillation
- Southern Paiute
- southern pea
- southern pine
- southern pine beetle
- southern pitch pine
- southern porgy
- southern prickly ash
- southern red cedar
- southern red lily
- southern red oak
- southern rhodesia
- southern right whale
- southern root rot
- southern senega
- southern spatterdock
- southern stem rot
- southern sugar maple
- southern up
- Southern Uplands