Honorable: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŽ–๏ธ
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honorable

 

[ หˆษ’nษ™rษ™bษ™l ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

in a respectful manner

worthy of honor or respect; deserving recognition or esteem

Synonyms

admirable, dignified, esteemed, respectable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
honorable

Used to describe someone or something that deserves respect and admiration due to integrity, fairness, or moral uprightness. Often used in formal contexts.

  • He was recognized as an honorable judge for his unbiased decisions.
  • It was an honorable act to return the lost money.
respectable

Used to describe someone or something that is considered socially acceptable, decent, and worthy of respect. It is often used in a broader sense, including morality and behavior.

  • She comes from a respectable family.
  • He is known in the community as a respectable businessman.
dignified

Used to describe someone or something that has a calm, serious, and controlled manner that deserves respect. It is often used to talk about someone's deportment or bearing.

  • Despite the challenges, she maintained a dignified silence.
  • He looked dignified in his formal attire.
admirable

Used to describe someone or something that is worthy of admiration because of their qualities, achievements, or actions. It often has a general positive connotation.

  • Her dedication to helping others is truly admirable.
  • He showed admirable courage in the face of danger.
esteemed

Used to indicate that someone or something is highly respected and admired, often because of their accomplishments or status. Commonly used in professional or formal contexts.

  • The esteemed professor gave a fascinating lecture on quantum physics.
  • It was a pleasure to meet such an esteemed author.

Examples of usage

  • He was seen as an honorable man in the community.
  • She received an honorable award for her charity work.
Context #2 | Adjective

in a moral sense

having high moral principles; upright

Synonyms

ethical, righteous, upright, virtuous.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
honorable

Used to describe someone or something that deserves respect and admiration for displaying integrity and moral principles.

  • He received an honorable discharge from the military.
  • The judge was known for her honorable decisions.
upright

Typically used to describe a person with a firm adherence to moral principles; often implies a straightforward and honest character.

  • He was an upright citizen who never broke the law.
  • She was praised for her upright stance on the issue.
ethical

Often used in professional settings to indicate adherence to a specific code of conduct or moral principles.

  • The company prides itself on its ethical standards.
  • Doctors are expected to act in an ethical manner.
virtuous

Describes someone with high moral standards, often used to praise purity and moral excellence.

  • She was admired for her virtuous nature.
  • His actions were seen as highly virtuous.
righteous

Used to describe someone who is morally right or justifiable, often with a sense of strong moral conviction.

  • She felt a righteous anger at the injustice.
  • He was known for his righteous behavior.

Examples of usage

  • He made the honorable decision to tell the truth.
  • It is important to act in an honorable way in all situations.
Context #3 | Adjective

in reference to a title or position

holding a position of honor or high rank

Synonyms

distinguished, esteemed, noble, respected.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
honorable

This word is often used to describe someone who is ethical and has a strong sense of duty and morality. It's commonly used in formal settings or to refer to judges or high-ranking officials.

  • He was an honorable man who always did the right thing
  • The honorable judge presided over the case
respected

This word indicates admiration due to someone's qualities, abilities, or achievements. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

  • He was a respected leader in the community
  • Her opinions are highly respected by her peers
distinguished

Used to describe someone who stands out due to their achievements, skills, or status. It's often used in academic, professional, or high-society settings.

  • She is a distinguished professor of history
  • The event was attended by many distinguished guests
esteemed

This word is used to show high regard or admiration for someone. It's usually used in formal or written communication.

  • Our esteemed colleague will be retiring next year
  • We gathered to celebrate the life of our esteemed mentor
noble

Refers to someone who has high moral principles or is of high social rank. It can also be used to describe actions that are very moral or generous.

  • Her noble efforts to help the poor were widely recognized
  • He belonged to a noble family with a long history of service

Examples of usage

  • The honorable judge presided over the court case.
  • She was addressed as the honorable mayor of the town.

Translations

Translations of the word "honorable" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น honrado

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเคฎเฅเคฎเคพเคจเคจเฅ€เคฏ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ehrenwert

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ terhormat

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัˆะฐะฝะพะฒะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ honorowy

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ่ช‰ใ‚ใ‚‹ (meiyo aru)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท honorable

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ honorable

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท saygฤฑdeฤŸer

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์กด๊ฒฝํ•  ๋งŒํ•œ (jon-gyeonghal manhan)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุดุฑู (musharraf)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ctihodnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ctihodnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฏๅฐŠๆ•ฌ็š„ (kฤ› zลซn jรฌng de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ ฤasten

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ virรฐulegur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›าฑั€ะผะตั‚ั‚ั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒžแƒแƒขแƒ˜แƒ (sap'atio)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hรถrmษ™tli

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ honorable

Etymology

The word 'honorable' originated from the Old French word 'honorable' and the Latin word 'honลrฤbilis', both meaning 'worthy of honor'. The term has been used for centuries to describe individuals who exhibit qualities that deserve respect, recognition, or esteem. Over time, 'honorable' has become associated with moral integrity, dignity, and high rank in society.

See also: dishonor, dishonorable, dishonorably, dishonored, honorably, honored, honorees, honoring, honors, unhonored.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,758 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.