laudable

adjective

laud·​able ˈlȯ-də-bəl 

: worthy of praise : commendable

She has shown a laudable devotion to her children.

laudableness

ˈlȯ-də-bəl-nəs 

noun

laudably

ˈlȯ-də-blē 

adverb

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• admirable
• applaudable
• commendable
• creditable
• estimable
• meritorious
• praiseworthy

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

This song is exactly about that, adding a level of catharsis and laudable maturity to his catalog. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 22 Nov. 2024

If Harris wins, the selfless act of withdrawing from the race will be a laudable part of President Biden’s legacy. —Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024

The Harris campaign’s intention to expand access to long-term at-home care is laudable, but a government takeover is not the solution. —Ge Bai, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

Another laudable quality about fall flavors Phillips mentions is that many can swing sweet or savory. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

laudable

adjective

laud·​able ˈlȯd-ə-bəl 

: praiseworthy

laudableness

-nəs 

noun

laudably

ˈlȯd-ə-blē 

adverb