laudable

adjective

laud·​able ˈlȯ-də-bəl How to pronounce laudable (audio)
Synonyms of laudable
: worthy of praise : commendable
She has shown a laudable devotion to her children.
laudableness noun
laudably 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. Take care, however, to consider the differences between the pair: laudable means "deserving praise" or "praiseworthy"; it is typically used to describe things people try to do or achieve ("a laudable goal/aim") or the work they expend to do so ("laudable efforts"). Meanwhile, laudatory means "giving praise" or "expressing praise"; it is almost always used to describe a favorable response to something, as in "laudatory remarks," and "laudatory media coverage."

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
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.
The case for more medical freedom rests on laudable principles. Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Encouraging people to adopt rather than shop is a laudable goal, and Colorado is home to a number of exceptional shelters and rescue organizations that help animals and humans. Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026 Iran, a war targeting regime change and the destruction of its nuclear capacities — laudable goals — also has the suspicious taint of being all about oil. Markos Kounalakis, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026 All in all, the standards would require a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, a laudable goal. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for laudable

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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Cite this Entry

“Laudable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laudable. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

laudable

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

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