Adjective A clear expression of praise
AdmirableMeaning, examples and usage
Admirable describes someone or something that deserves respect or approval.
Say it: AD-muh-ruh-buhl · stress the first syllable
How to use admirable
Name the action or quality you respect. “Your patience was admirable” gives more information than “You are admirable.” The word suits a recommendation or thoughtful compliment. In a casual thank-you, “I really admired the way you handled that” may sound more personal.
Example sentences
Illustrative examples written for this guide.
A quality
“Her admirable patience gave the new volunteers time to learn.”
Patience is the quality being praised; the rest explains its effect.
A choice
“It was admirable of him to admit the mistake before anyone asked.”
Admirable of someone to do something is a useful sentence pattern.
A different word form
“The team handled the last-minute change admirably.”
Admirably is the adverb. It describes how the team handled the change.
Similar words, different emphasis
- Commendable
- A close alternative for an action or effort that merits praise; it can sound formal.
- Impressive
- Emphasizes making a strong impression. Something can be impressive without being worthy of approval.
- Admired
- Says that people actually admire someone or something. Admirable says that the admiration is deserved.
How do you use admirable in a compliment?
Connect it to something you noticed: “Your honesty about the delay was admirable.” This tells the person what you value. You can also use the verb admire: “I admire how clearly you explained the problem.” Avoid adding several superlatives when a specific observation will do.
References and editorial note
The linked dictionary entries support the word meanings. The example sentences and writing suggestions are Ikigain’s own. This is a language guide, not a personality assessment.