laudable
Americanadjective
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deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable.
Reorganizing the files was a laudable idea.
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Medicine/Medical Obsolete. healthy; wholesome; not noxious.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of laudable
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word laudābilis. See laud, -able
Explanation
Use the word laudable to describe something that deserves praise or admiration, like your laudable efforts to start a recycling program at your school. When you break apart the word laudable, you can see the verb laud, meaning praise or acclaim, followed by the suffix -able, which is a tip-off that this word is an adjective. So laudable describes things that are worthy of praise, such as a laudable effort to end poverty, and it can also describe admirable ideas or beliefs, such as a laudable compassion for others.
Vocabulary lists containing laudable
Grade 11, List 1
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The Tragedy of Macbeth
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I believe that no, we’re not going to let the ends justify the means, even if the ends may be laudable, like exposing bigotry, because it leads us down a very slippery slope.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
The word cure, Richardson says, is far-reaching, and while very laudable as a goal, doesn’t capture the current reality.
From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2026
It was seriously flawed but that made the manner of the win all the more laudable.
From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2026
The staging, directed by Ash K. Tata, is almost entirely devoid of laudable performances, and the result is a long and torpid evening.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026
Did laudable work at Floyd's Foods; rarely missed spots while mopping; was up for night manager.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
