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Synonyms

creditable

American  
[kred-i-tuh-buhl] / ˈkrɛd ɪ tə bəl /

adjective

  1. bringing or deserving credit, honor, reputation, or esteem.

    Synonyms:
    honorable, estimable, meritorious, praiseworthy

creditable British  
/ ˈkrɛdɪtəbəl /

adjective

  1. deserving credit, honour, etc; praiseworthy

  2. obsolete credible

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of creditable

First recorded in 1520–30; credit + -able

Compare meaning

How does creditable compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Explanation

Doing something creditable means that you made a solid effort worthy of recognition, like baking a cake that tastes pretty good even if the decoration is not the most impressive. A creditable effort or achievement might not be extraordinary, but it’s still something to be proud of. For example, a student might give a creditable performance in a school play — not the star of the show, but definitely reliable and worth recognizing. Similarly, a work project can be considered creditable if it meets expectations and shows a job well done. The word creditable reminds us that effort matters, and it’s important to give credit where it’s due.

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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.

Mr. Benet, a singer-songwriter making a creditable Broadway debut, has a supple and strong voice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Though the ratio isn’t a perfect predictor of the stock market’s subsequent 12-month return, it has done a creditable job since 2014.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Hadjar retired from the race with an engine failure and Verstappen recovered to a creditable sixth.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Bottom side Real Oviedo earned a creditable 1-1 draw at home against Real Betis and sit five points from safety.

From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026

All this history seems both plausible and creditable, good reading for doctors, but there is always that other leech, the worm.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

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