Don't talk to me about respectability. I know every shady thing you've ever done. It would be a shame if the world were to ever find out about them.
Source: tatoeba (5270141)
Respectability
/ɹɪˌspɛktəˈbɪlɪti/
Synonyms for "respectability" (34 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (7)
Strong matches (10)
Verb(1 words)
enhance reputation
Noun(1 words)
image management
Related words (17)
Noun(8 words)
Verb(1 words)
protect reputation
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acceptability, character, decency, decorum, dignifying.
- Sentence evidence is available for respectability, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "respectability".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "respectability"
Keep "respectability" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "respectability" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "respectability", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "respectability" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesMore specific
8 entriesappearance enhancementdress codelocal standingmoral standingprofessional standingpublic relationspublic standingsocial standing
Collocations
6 entriesappearance of respectabilityhigh respectabilitymoral respectabilitypublic respectabilityrespectability politicssocial respectability
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
He has an air of respectability about him.
Source: tatoeba (5774728)
Such a scandal as the prosecution of a brother for forgery—with a verdict of guilty—is a most truly horrible, deplorable, fatal thing. It takes the respectability out of a family perhaps at a critical moment, when the family is just assuming the robes of respectability: […] it is a black spot which all the soaps ever advertised could never wash off.
Source: wiktionary
Though he knew it not, the subtle spirit of vagabondage had taken possession of his soul, and even of his hat, which seemed suddenly to have lost its original respectability, and acquired an air of dissoluteness.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "respectability"?
Closest matches include acceptability, character, decency, decorum, dignifying.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "respectability"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.