praiseworthy

American  

[preyz-wur-thee] / ˈpreɪzˌwɜr ði /

adjective

1. deserving of praise; laudable.

   a praiseworthy motive.

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praiseworthy British  

/ ˈpreɪzˌwɜːðɪ /

adjective

1. deserving of praise; commendable

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Other Word Forms

• praiseworthily adverb
• praiseworthiness noun
• unpraiseworthy adjective

Etymology

Origin of praiseworthy

First recorded in 1530–40; praise + -worthy

Explanation

When you do something praiseworthy, you should be congratulated and admired for doing it. Diving into the ocean to save a drowning child is praiseworthy. Use the adjective praiseworthy to describe an action that deserves acclaim or celebration. It's praiseworthy to treat everyone with kindness, and it's also praiseworthy to discover a cure for cancer or learn to speak ten languages. The fifteenth century word comes from a shortening of "worthy of praise," and it was originally hyphenated: praise-worthy. Praise has an Old French root, pretium, "to prize or to praise."

Example Sentences

For one thing, his novel is one of the few that looks at colonizing Mars as a legitimate, even praiseworthy, escape plan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Others remember it as a praiseworthy attempt to fight the endemic corruption that was holding back Nigeria's development.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2025

“So I’m trying to infuse confidence in these guys,” Cronin said after sounding a far less praiseworthy tune for most of the season.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2025

Such mythmaking adds to the public's belief in the possibility of the American dream and the praiseworthy egoism of genius.

From Salon • Sep. 12, 2023

And I know that everyone will admit it would be a very praiseworthy thing to find in a prince those qualities mentioned above that are held to be good.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

Related Words

• admirable
• commendable
• creditable
• estimable
• honorable
• laudable
• meritorious