respected

Terms that have much the same meaning as respected are well-respected and well-regarded (though both can be used to be even more positive). All of these words are used to describe a person who has a positive reputation. A respected member of a group like a team or business is often one who’s valued and appreciated. Esteemed can mean much the same thing as respected, but it’s even more positive. See the next section for other words that are also more positive than respected.

Calling someone respected is quite positive. However, there are some words that imply that people not only respect the person, but highly admire them. Words that capture this sense are admired and esteemed. Words that take this to an even higher level are celebrated, beloved, and revered. The word respected is sometimes contrasted with feared, as in There were many respected officers, and a few who were feared.

Some people are respected, and others… aren’t. Perhaps the most common (and polite) way of saying this is to simply say that someone is not well-respected or not well-regarded. Someone who is not respected is often someone who is disliked. Much stronger words include despised, detested, and hated. The word disrespected can be thought of as an opposite of respected, but the words are often used in different situations. Whereas respected is often a general description of how people feel about (or treat) a person, disrespected is typically used in specific instances, as in I felt really disrespected when you corrected me in front of everyone.