laudable

adjective

laud·​able ˈlȯ-də-bəl How to pronounce laudable (audio)
: worthy of praise : commendable
She has shown a laudable devotion to her children.
laudableness noun
laudably adverb

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Let’s have a hearty round of applause for laudable, a word that never fails to celebrate the positive. Laudable comes ultimately from Latin laud- or laus, meaning "praise," as does laudatory. However, the two differ in meaning, and usage commentators warn against using them interchangeably. Laudable means "deserving praise" or "praiseworthy," as in "laudable efforts to help the disadvantaged." Laudatory means "giving praise" or "expressing praise," as in "a laudatory book review." People occasionally use laudatory in place of laudable, but this use is not considered standard.

Examples of laudable in a Sentence

Improving the schools is a laudable goal. you showed laudable restraint in dealing with that ridiculously demanding customer
Recent Examples on the Web His vision for California as a climate leader is laudable. Bill Magavern, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024 Informing women about their contraceptive choices is a laudable goal. Alana Semuels, TIME, 13 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for laudable 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'laudable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of laudable was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near laudable

Cite this Entry

“Laudable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laudable. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

laudable

adjective
laud·​able ˈlȯd-ə-bəl How to pronounce laudable (audio)
laudableness noun
laudably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on laudable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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