ADMIRE Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'admire' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of admire are esteem , regard , and respect . While all these words mean "to recognize the worth of a person or thing," admire suggests usually enthusiastic appreciation and often deep affection. // a friend that I truly admire

Q: When can 'esteem' be used instead of 'admire'?

The words esteem and admire are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, esteem implies greater warmth of feeling accompanying a high valuation. // no citizen of the town was more highly esteemed

Q: Where would 'regard' be a reasonable alternative to 'admire'?

While in some cases nearly identical to admire , regard is a general term that is usually qualified. // he is highly regarded in the profession

Q: When is 'respect' a more appropriate choice than 'admire'?

While the synonyms respect and admire are close in meaning, respect implies a considered evaluation or estimation. // after many years they came to respect her views

admire

verb

əd-ˈmī(-ə)r

Definition of admire next

as in to respect

to think very highly or favorably of I admire the way you handled such a touchy situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb admire contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of admire are esteem, regard, and respect. While all these words mean "to recognize the worth of a person or thing," admire suggests usually enthusiastic appreciation and often deep affection.

a friend that I truly admire

When can esteem be used instead of admire?

The words esteem and admire are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, esteem implies greater warmth of feeling accompanying a high valuation.

no citizen of the town was more highly esteemed

Where would regard be a reasonable alternative to admire?

While in some cases nearly identical to admire, regard is a general term that is usually qualified.

he is highly regarded in the profession

When is respect a more appropriate choice than admire?

While the synonyms respect and admire are close in meaning, respect implies a considered evaluation or estimation.

after many years they came to respect her views

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of admire There was often little to admire, and that was intentional—Bochner wanted viewers to think of art as being more than something to see. —

Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Feb. 2025 Silver Streak makes for a great tabletop or coffee table plant to admire up close. —

Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2025 Just after sunset in late February, stargazers can admire a planet parade, with all seven of our neighboring planetary bodies. —

Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 13 Feb. 2025 Far from enabling the U.S. to annex Canada, the McKinley Tariff that Trump so admires drove the U.S.’s neighbor to the North into the arms of its main economic rival, the British. —

Marc-William Palen / Made By History, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for admire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for admire

Verb

As part of this heartfelt remembrance, Briscoe and Truex Jr.'s former team are participating in respecting his legacy in the sport.

— Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025
Our research finds that Baltimore City and Maryland are trailblazers in respecting gender equity in public health data.

— Michelle Kaufman, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2025