admiration

[ ad-muh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a feeling of wonder, pleasure, or approval.

   Synonyms: affection, regard, esteem, approval

   Antonyms: condemnation

2. the act of looking on or contemplating with pleasure:

   admiration of fine paintings.

3. an object of wonder, pleasure, or approval:

   The dancer was the admiration of everyone.

4. Archaic. wonder; astonishment.

admiration

/ ˌædməˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. pleasurable contemplation or surprise
2. a person or thing that is admired

   she was the admiration of the court

3. archaic.
   wonder

Other Words From

• ad·mi·ra·tive [ad-, mahy, -r, uh, -tiv, ad-m, uh, -, rey, -], adjective
• ad·mira·tive·ly adverb
• self-admi·ration noun
• super·admi·ration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of admiration¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English admiracion, from Latin admīrātiōn-, stem of admīrātiō; equivalent to admire + -ation

Idioms and Phrases

see mutual admiration society .

Example Sentences

France’s wealthiest man spoke of Tiffany as an American icon and expressed his “intense respect and admiration” for the business.

From Fortune

They have a deep and sometimes pathological need for admiration and status—in fact, they may feel entitled to it.

From Quartz

Improvisation is a highly complex form of creative behavior that justly inspires our awe and admiration.

From Nautilus

Others placed hand written messages next framed photos of the late-Supreme Court justice expressing their love and admiration for her.

From Washington Blade

I once managed to land a job offer by casually referencing my admiration for Leonard Cohen during the interview.

From Quartz

Others earn our admiration because they belong more to a particular moment.

From The Daily Beast

The pride and admiration Vial has for the artists who put on Cirque du Soleil is evident.

From The Daily Beast

He made no bones about his great admiration for FDR, who was his mentor, and he had roots too in the Truman administration.

From The Daily Beast

In the ruling, she expressed her admiration for Ms. Fitzmaurice.

From The Daily Beast

To his close friends, Picasso did not hide his admiration for the Iberian sculptures.

From The Daily Beast

One of the first out-goings of admiration towards form is the child's praise of "tiny" things.

From Project Gutenberg

Admiration for brilliant colours, for moving things, such as feathers, is common to the two.

From Project Gutenberg

The mother played her accompaniments and at the same time watched her daughter with greedy admiration and nervous apprehension.

From Project Gutenberg

His unbounded generosity won for him the admiration of all his race, who graciously recognized him as their Maguinoó.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Pell was a very elegant and accomplished woman; her manners were the theme of universal admiration in our neighbourhood.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adoration
• affection
• applause
• appreciation
• delight
• esteem
• fondness
• love
• pleasure
• praise
• recognition
• reverence
• wonder
• wonderment