Commendable
/kəˈmɛn.də.bəl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Commendable describes actions, behavior, or qualities that are worthy of praise. When someone does something well or shows good character, we say it is commendable. It is used to show respect and approval for positive efforts or results.
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⚡ See It in Action
Deserving praise or approval for good work or behavior
- •Her effort to help the community was commendable.
- •It is commendable that he finished the project on time despite difficulties.
- •The teacher said the student's honesty was commendable.
Showing qualities that deserve respect or admiration
- •The team's teamwork was commendable during the competition.
- •His courage in the face of danger was truly commendable.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "commendable" like "good" or "nice," but it means especially worthy of saying "well done!"
- ✓Picture a student who studies hard and helps others—this behavior shines and deserves a thumbs-up.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you see someone doing the right thing or working hard, and you want to say "Great job!"
- ✓Sounds like "come-MEND-able" → imagine someone coming to fix (mend) a broken thing well, so you praise them.
- ✓Think of a medal or certificate given for good work—commendable means the kind of work that earns that.
- ✓NOT like "okay" or "fine" (just average)—commendable means above average and worthy of respect.
- ✓NOT like "perfect" (without any mistake)—commendable means good enough to praise, even if not perfect.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Praiseworthy: deserving praise (Use when you want to emphasize that someone or something deserves to be praised)
- •Admirable: worthy of admiration (Use when focusing on respect for qualities or actions)
- •Notable: important or worthy of attention (Use when highlighting something worth noticing, not always praise)
- •Laudable: deserving praise (More formal, use in writing or serious speech)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix "com-" means "together" or "with"
- •Root "mend" comes from Latin "monere" meaning "to warn" or "advise," but here linked to "commend" meaning "to praise"
- •Suffix "-able" means "able to be" or "worthy of"
- •Comes from Latin "commendare," meaning "to entrust or praise"
- •First used in English in the 1500s to describe actions or qualities worthy of praise
- •Today, used to describe anything that deserves respect or approval for good qualities or effort
💭 Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of actions in your life do you think are commendable, and why?
•How does calling something commendable affect the way people feel about their work or behavior?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Her hard work was commendable because she ___ every detail carefully.
2.The student's honesty was commendable, showing ___ and trustworthiness.
3.Unlike simple good behavior, commendable actions usually ___ extra effort or courage.
4.When a person is described as commendable, it means they deserve ___ for what they did.
5.People often use commendable to describe actions that inspire ___ or respect.
6.It is not enough to do average work; to be commendable, you must ___ more than usual.
7.The manager said the team's performance was commendable and ___ recognition.