esteem 1 of 2

noun

i-ˈstēm How to pronounce esteem (audio)
Definition of esteemnext
as in admiration
a feeling of great approval and liking an athlete who is held in great esteem by her peers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

esteem

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to regard
to think of in a particular way I had esteemed the whole affair to be a colossal waste of time

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to respect
to think very highly or favorably of although the works of the Impressionist painters are esteemed today, they met with scorn when they were introduced

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to think
to have as an opinion I should have esteemed it most unlikely that their marriage had any chance of success

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb esteem contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of esteem are admire, regard, and respect. While all these words mean "to recognize the worth of a person or thing," esteem implies greater warmth of feeling accompanying a high valuation.

no citizen of the town was more highly esteemed

When is admire a more appropriate choice than esteem?

The words admire and esteem can be used in similar contexts, but admire suggests usually enthusiastic appreciation and often deep affection.

a friend that I truly admire

When is it sensible to use regard instead of esteem?

Although the words regard and esteem have much in common, regard is a general term that is usually qualified.

he is highly regarded in the profession

Where would respect be a reasonable alternative to esteem?

In some situations, the words respect and esteem are roughly equivalent. However, 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 esteem
Noun
The black, blue and white edition isn’t quite as popular as those that employ the Chicago Bulls’ blue and red but is nonetheless held in high esteem by collectors. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 7 Jan. 2026 To Villa’s credit, manager Unai Emery and other staff held Rogers in high esteem. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
The most successful merchandisers are those who esteem creativity, speak a designer’s language, and can build the right structure so that the designer’s artistic vision will shine. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 19 Dec. 2025 While the money and comfort can come from Notre Dame, the school can't offer the same level of notoriety and esteem that comes with being a successful NFL coach, a reality that Bevacqua is well prepared for. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for esteem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for esteem
  1. admiration
  2. regard
  3. respect
  4. think
  5. appreciation
  6. consider
  7. admire
  8. believe
Noun
  • The admiration between partners goes both ways as Carpenter shared with us.
    — Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
  • But the admiration extends beyond campus.
    — Johnny Resendiz, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of admiration
Verb
  • It’s regarded as his greatest song ever, containing his favorite themes of violence, mortality, regret, and above all, loneliness, against the backdrop of the American wilderness.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The agency has not specified if the suspension of the police powers of Blanchette and Leslie are due to violations of its policies regarding pursuits and forcibly ending them.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of regard
Verb
  • Island artisans shaped much of the transformation, handling everything from masonry repairs to custom windows to cabinetry and furniture, working with a level of care that respected the building’s age and character.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2026
  • If someone pushes, state what works for you and offer a simple alternative that respects time and money.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of respect
Verb
  • People think, oh, this is just a nepotism situation.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Lindsey showed that people can do it a lot longer than anybody thought.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of think
Noun
  • After the skills challenge Tuesday night, the three IceHogs made sure to sign autographs and offer their appreciation to their fans.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Perhaps this appreciation stems from my early days in the seminary.
    — Chick Pritchard, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of appreciation
Verb
  • If the opportunity to sell Romero arises in the summer, Spurs should seriously consider cutting their losses and reinvesting the money in a more reliable defender.
    — Jay Harris, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
  • While that is the standard that would be considered in a civil case, local investigators are also looking into whether any state laws were violated.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of consider
Verb
  • Vidovic admired how Brusek could go into basketball after missing four years and not miss a beat.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The massive lobby is bustling at any time of day, but take a moment to pause and admire the common space's Dale Chihuly centerpiece that's comprised of more than 600 pieces of blown glass.
    — Laura Ratliff, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of admire
Verb
  • The actor believed the spot was caused by his lymphoma, but later found out the tumor was actually unrelated.
    — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 8 Feb. 2026
  • That was believed to be just the first and second time that a parent was held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting committed by their child.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of believe

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Esteem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/esteem. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on esteem

Nglish: Translation of esteem for Spanish Speakers

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