Synonyms

honorable

American

[on-er-uh-buhl] / ˈɒn ər ə bəl /

adjective

in accordance with or characterized by principles of honor; upright.

They were all honorable men.

Synonyms:

just, noble, honest

Antonyms:

ignoble
of high rank, dignity, or distinction; noble, illustrious, or distinguished.
worthy of honor and high respect; estimable; creditable.
bringing honor or credit; consistent with honor.
(initial capital letter)
1. (used as a title of respect for certain ranking government officials.)
2. British. (used as a title of courtesy for children of peers ranking below a marquis.) Hon.

Other Word Forms

honorableness noun
honorably adverb
quasi-honorable adjective
quasi-honorably adverb

Etymology

Origin of honorable

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English hono(u)rable, from Anglo-French, from Latin honōrābilis; equivalent to honor + -able

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.

Military service is an honorable path, and those who risk their lives for their country deserve the highest level of respect.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

“It’s time to bring the Model S and X programs to an end with an honorable discharge,” Musk said.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

"We're doing a big investigation... I'm going to be watching over it and I want to very honorable and honest investigation and I have to see it myself."

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

His coverage of Sri Lanka's financial crisis was part of a collection of stories about China's Belt & Road initiative that received an honorable mention award from the Society of Publishers in Asia in 2023.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

The tall man looked like a younger version of the honorable Dottor Massimo.

From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023