admirable

adjective

ad·​mi·​ra·​ble ˈad-m(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: deserving the highest esteem : excellent

an admirable achievement

2

obsolete : exciting wonder : surprising

admirability

ˌad-m(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

admirableness

ˈad-m(ə-)rə-bəl-nəs 

noun

admirably

ˈad-m(ə-)rə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• applaudable
• commendable
• creditable
• estimable
• laudable
• meritorious
• praiseworthy

Examples of admirable in a Sentence

Loyalty was her most admirable quality.

it's admirable the way she helps her elderly neighbor with chores and errands every Saturday

Recent Examples on the Web

His mother does an admirable job of trying to keep him out of trouble, even if her efforts to steer him away from the paths that kept his father out of his life strike Rico as attempts to neuter his free spirit. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025

Even Yang, whose commitment is admirable, struggles to convey what’s inside John’s head — which, of course, is the whole point of this project. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025

The company itself has done an admirable job of its own reinvention. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Over the last two-and-a-half years, Grier and the Sharks’ front office have done an admirable job of bolstering the team’s scouting and development staffs, clearing out lengthy, expensive contracts, creating valuable cap space, and building the team’s prospect pool into one of the NHL’s best. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English admyrable, borrowed from Anglo-French admirable, borrowed from Latin admīrābilis, from admīrārī "to admire" + -bilis "capable (of acting or being acted upon)" — more at -able

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

admirable

adjective

ad·​mi·​ra·​ble ˌad-mə-rə-bəl 

-mrə-bəl

: deserving to be admired : excellent

admirableness noun

admirably

-blē 

adverb