respectable
re·spect·able (ri spek′tə bəl)
adjective
- worthy of respect or esteem; estimable
- conforming to socially acceptable behavior, attitudes, taste, etc.; proper; correct
- fairly good in quality; of moderate excellence a respectable meal
- fairly large in size, number, or amount a respectable score
- good enough to be seen, used, etc.; presentable a respectable pair of shoes
Etymology: ML respectabilis
respectable
modif.
Antonyms
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.
I can reason down or deny everything, except this perpetual Belly: feed he must and will, and I cannot make him respectable.
There is no road to wealth so easyand respectable as that of matrimony.
It seems he had no design except to appear respectable, and herehekeepsa privatebook toprovethat hewasnot.
We're from Madeira, but perfectly respectable, so far.
Since when was genius found respectable?
A Chancery Lane young man, A Somerset House young man, Avery delectable, highly respectable, Threepenny-bus young man!
The more things a man is ashamed of, the more respectable he is.
All decent people live beyond their incomes nowadays, and those who aren't respectable live beyond other peoples'. A few gifted individuals manage to do both.
Browse dictionary entries near respectable
- respectability
- respect
- resp
- resources
- resourceful
- Resource Reservation Protocol
- resource management cell
- resource
- resounding
- resound
- respected
- respecter
- respectful
- respectfully
- respecting
- respective
- respectively
- respects
- respell
- Respighi
