respectable

Adjective complement with noun phrase

• keep: PCC's keeper made up for some errors in the first half with 4 or 5 superb saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
• make: To some extent they have made public spending respectable once more.

Modifies a noun

• inhabitant: At the request of some respectable inhabitants of this town I went thither.
• tradesman: The intention is to appoint respectable married tradesmen to these positions.
• gentleman: He made the most astonishing efforts in acquiring learning, which brought him under the notice of many respectable gentlemen.
• citizen: Frequently, the main culprits are those whom many would regard as respectable, upright citizens.
• pedigree: The best bet seems to be an effective land tax, which has a very respectable pedigree.
• congregation: It is at present attended by a respectable congregation.

Modifying Another Word

• academically: Our requirement that the project be academically respectable must be communicated clearly to the client.
• eminently: But somehow Campion, or his eminently respectable friends, always seem to find themselves suffering at the hands of some less respectable character.
• intellectually: EARLY in the 19th century it was intellectually respectable to justify one's belief in God by arguing from design.
• perfectly: Ireland made a perfectly respectable 263 for 9 to lose the game by 38 runs.
• scientifically: In Dr. Hynek's words " Instead of having UFO a synonym for crackpot and ridicule, let's make it scientifically respectable.

Used with adjective complement

• appear: I'm not going to join in what appears to be an exercise in making the BNP appear respectable.
• seem: I dared not tell him she was someone else's wife as he seemed so respectable.
• look: Only James Grady battled to the end in make the scoreline look slightly more respectable.
• become: The BNP becomes more respectable with every passing election.
• consider: In the mid-eighteenth century, the novel was still a young form and not considered wholly respectable.
• make: When the gospel is powerful and when the church is influential, then the world is made respectable.