An admirable quality or action is one that deserves to be praised and admired.
Beyton is an admirable character.
The film tells its story with admirable economy.
Synonyms: praiseworthy, good, great [informal], fine More Synonyms of admirable
admirably (ædmɪrəbli)adverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective/adverb]
Peter had dealt admirably with the sudden questions about Keith.
Johnstone's research is admirably wide-ranging.
admirable in British English
(ˈædmərəbəl)
adjective
deserving or inspiring admiration; excellent
Derived forms
admirably (ˈadmirably)
adverb
admirable in American English
(ˈædmərəbəl)
adjective
inspiring or deserving admiration or praise; excellent; splendid
Derived forms
admirability (ˌadmiraˈbility) (ˈædmərəˈbɪləti)
noun or ˈadmirableness
admirably (ˈadmirably)
adverb
Word origin
ME < L admirabilis < admirari: see admire
Examples of 'admirable' in a sentence
admirable
All this is done with admirable clarity.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Its unsparing account of an atrocious crime is offset by admirable dramatic restraint.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There was and is something admirable about it.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The end of the permanent revolution of red boxes is in many ways admirable.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was obvious their questioning by police and a social worker was of admirable quality.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He showed admirable restraint in not allowing this to show.
The Sun (2010)
But there is still something oddly admirable in all this.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The purpose was wholly admirable, except that it was barely engaging.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If this wholly admirable man is unable to find the time to volunteer, who can?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
His restraint was in many ways admirable, but it reduced his effectiveness.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
He sees it as an admirable quality, which it is to some degree.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Summers and Swan recount all this with admirable restraint.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There is something admirable about this - the absence of showmanship.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There's something admirable about this younger generation of royals.
The Sun (2013)
His quixotic charges at youth unemployment, school meals and obesity have all been memorable and wholly admirable.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I think police officers showed admirable restraint under the circumstances.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She explained with admirable restraint that it was annoying for her too because she didn't get paid for delays.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But his body language uttered no complaint and he kept trying to contribute, and there was something admirable in that.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Normally that's an admirable quality.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
While letting it all hang out might be an admirable quality at times, it is no good when trying to run a country.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The dancing, by a cast mainly clad in white shirts and trousers, is wholly admirable.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In a wholly admirable way, he's saving face.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Stack's taste and style were admirable yet always unpretentious, with no trace of affectation or competitiveness.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Too many policies - admirable in themselves - receive far less credit than they deserve because of a timid reluctance to put them into their ideological context.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
admirable
British English: admirable ADJECTIVE
An admirable quality or action is one that deserves to be praised and admired.
She did an admirable job of holding the audience's attention.
American English: admirable
Brazilian Portuguese: admirável
Chinese: 值得钦佩的
European Spanish: admirable
French: admirable
German: bewundernswert
Italian: ammirevole
Japanese: りっぱな
Korean: 감탄할 만한
European Portuguese: admirável
Latin American Spanish: admirable
(adjective)
Definition
deserving or inspiring admiration
The film tells its story with admirable economy.
Synonyms
praiseworthy
praiseworthy efforts
good
You should read this book – it's really good.
great (informal)
It's a great film; you must see it.
fine
This is a fine book.
capital
noted
choice
The finest array of choicest foods is to be found within their Food Hall.
champion
prime
It was one of the City's prime locations.
select
a select group of French cheeses
wonderful
I've always thought he was a wonderful actor.
excellent
We complimented him on doing an excellent job.
brilliant
My sister's given me a brilliant book.
rare
She has a rare ability to record her observations on paper.
cracking (British, informal)
outstanding
an outstanding tennis player
valuable
superb
a superb 18-hole golf course
distinguished
superior
He's got a superior car, and it's easy to win races that way.
sterling
worthy
worthy members of the community
first-class
notable
sovereign
dope (slang)
world-class
He was determined to become a world-class tennis player.
exquisite
The hotel features friendly staff and exquisite cuisine.
exemplary
He showed outstanding and exemplary courage in the face of danger.
first-rate
They were dealing with a first-rate professional.
superlative
commendable
He has acted with commendable speed.
top-notch (informal)
brill (informal)
laudable
One of her less laudable characteristics was her jealousy.
meritorious
I had been promoted for gallant and meritorious service.
estimable
an estimable cricket team with two members holding world records
tiptop
A1 or A-one (informal)
bitchin' (US, slang)
chillin' (US, slang)
booshit (Australian, slang)
exo (Australian, slang)
sik (Australian, slang)
ka pai (New Zealand)
rad (informal)
phat (slang)
schmick (Australian, informal)
The band launch their schmick new CD next week.
beaut (informal)
barrie (Scottish, slang)
belting (British, slang)
pearler (Australian, slang)
Opposites
bad
,
disappointing
,
commonplace
,
worthless
,
mediocre
,
deplorable
,
displeasing
,
no great shakes (informal)
,
half-pie (New Zealand, informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of brilliant
Definition
splendid
My sister's given me a brilliant book.
Synonyms
excellent,
great (informal),
good,
fine,
wonderful,
cracking (British, informal),
superb,
fantastic (informal),
tremendous (informal),
marvellous (informal),
terrific (informal),
mean (slang),
mega (slang),
awesome (slang),
booshit (Australian, slang),
exo (Australian, slang),
sik (Australian, slang),
first-rate,
brill (informal),
topping (British, slang),
hunky-dory (informal),
beaut (informal),
barrie (Scottish, slang),
belting (British, slang),
pearler (Australian, slang)
in the sense of choice
Definition
of high quality
The finest array of choicest foods is to be found within their Food Hall.