paean
noun
pae·an ˈpē-ən 
1
: a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph
unite their voices in a great paean to liberty
Edward Sackville-West
Edward Sackville-West2
: a work that praises or honors its subject : encomium, tribute
wrote a paean to the queen on her 50th birthday
Did you know?
According to the poet Homer, the Greek god Apollo sometimes took the guise of Paean, physician to the gods. The earliest musical paeans were hymns of thanksgiving and praise that were dedicated to Apollo. They were sung at events ranging from boisterous festivals to public funerals, and they were the traditional marching songs of armies heading into battle. Over time, the word became generalized, and it is now used for any kind of tribute.
Synonyms
- accolade
- citation
- commendation
- dithyramb
- encomium
- eulogium
- eulogy
- homage
- hymn
- panegyric
- salutation
- tribute
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
his retirement party featured many paeans for his long years of service to the company
Recent Examples on the Web The series is a tribute to sleuthing—to quests—and a wide-eyed paean to magical realism. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 But rest assured that Shattuck’s memoir is much more than a paean to Thoreau. Heller Mcalpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2022 Her stream-of-consciousness paean ends with what might be a description of her own soon-to-be rock stardom. Roy Trakin, Variety, 11 June 2022 Muti’s concluding paean to the importance of culture was more heartfelt, if also more predictable. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2022 Not to mention asps, chickadees, raptors, ingenues, con artists and magicians, as well as a wide array of genres for nearly every taste and mood: poetry, history, memoir, fantasy, literary fiction and a paean to the natural world. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2022 His book, a paean to Mr. Carter, is ironic and smart, a social history and a poignant coming-of-age story. Moira Hodgson, WSJ, 22 Apr. 2022 Composed shortly after Nazi Germany’s defeat, there’s little debate that Shostakovich did not deliver a noble paean to the people’s struggle during the Great Patriotic War, upsetting Soviet officials. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2022 It’s a paean to adventure on foot and the pleasures of traveling light in every sense — a welcome tonic for wearying times. Washington Post, 30 Dec. 2021 See More
Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 But rest assured that Shattuck’s memoir is much more than a paean to Thoreau. Heller Mcalpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2022 Her stream-of-consciousness paean ends with what might be a description of her own soon-to-be rock stardom. Roy Trakin, Variety, 11 June 2022 Muti’s concluding paean to the importance of culture was more heartfelt, if also more predictable. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2022 Not to mention asps, chickadees, raptors, ingenues, con artists and magicians, as well as a wide array of genres for nearly every taste and mood: poetry, history, memoir, fantasy, literary fiction and a paean to the natural world. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2022 His book, a paean to Mr. Carter, is ironic and smart, a social history and a poignant coming-of-age story. Moira Hodgson, WSJ, 22 Apr. 2022 Composed shortly after Nazi Germany’s defeat, there’s little debate that Shostakovich did not deliver a noble paean to the people’s struggle during the Great Patriotic War, upsetting Soviet officials. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2022 It’s a paean to adventure on foot and the pleasures of traveling light in every sense — a welcome tonic for wearying times. Washington Post, 30 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin, hymn of thanksgiving especially addressed to Apollo, from Greek paian, paiōn, from Paian, Paiōn, epithet of Apollo in the hymn
First Known Use
1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1
paean
noun
as in tribute
a formal expression of praise his retirement party featured many paeans for his long years of service to the company Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- tribute
- commendation
- homage
- hymn
- panegyric
- encomium
- citation
- eulogy
- accolade
- dithyramb
- award
- salutation
- eulogium
- prize
- applause
- laudation
- dedication
- acclaim
- honor
- acclamation
- decoration
- hallelujah
- approval
- recommendation
- compliment
- plaudit(s)
- bravo
- kudo
- cachet
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- condemnation
- indictment
- denunciation
- rebuke
- censure
- reprimand
- lecture
- sermon
- admonition
- reproof
- correction
- harangue