laudable

[ law-duh-buhl ]

adjective

1. deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable:

   Reorganizing the files was a laudable idea.

2. Medicine/Medical Obsolete. healthy; wholesome; not noxious.

laudable

/ ˈlɔːdəbəl /

adjective

1. deserving or worthy of praise; admirable; commendable

Derived Forms

• ˈlaudably, adverb
• ˈlaudableness, noun

Other Words From

• lauda·bili·ty lauda·ble·ness noun
• lauda·bly adverb
• un·lauda·ble adjective
• un·lauda·ble·ness noun
• un·lauda·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of laudable¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word laudābilis. See laud, -able

Example Sentences

Making sure that people have a choice is laudable, but overwhelmed decision makers are even more likely to take the default.

From Time

Recently, many laudable civic education initiatives have emerged.

From Washington Post

So, allow us to shine a light on some good games that may not immediately seem laudable.

From Ars Technica

Critics say forest preservation is laudable but, without planting more trees, doesn’t help meet the state’s expressed goal of “no net loss” to the overall canopy.

From Washington Post

First, while the goals of stakeholder capitalism—such as fairer wages, lesser income inequality, and smaller carbon footprint—are laudable, they are not, in and of themselves, the stuff of antitrust.

From Fortune

With laudable promptness, the speechifying began, as promised, at 11.

From The Daily Beast

The garment is laudable: both innovative and socially conscious.

From The Daily Beast

But the activists, for obvious and laudable reasons, want this option to be taken off the books in this case and for all time.

From The Daily Beast

And we endorse the principle that no goal is laudable if it increases even slightly the risk of violence against our children.

From The Daily Beast

These are telling remarks, and they show how laudable exercises in empathy can end up hurting those they intend to help.

From The Daily Beast

It is a very laudable spirit on the part of a dying man to wish to—ah—perpetuate these old English names.

From Project Gutenberg

The laudable aim of America to convert the Filipino into an American in action and sentiment will probably never be realized.

From Project Gutenberg

"That is very kind of you, but I fancy it is rather late to form so laudable a resolve," the officer said in his sarcastic voice.

From Project Gutenberg

One American house makes a laudable attempt at a more exact terminology by calling the killed cultures of bacteria bacterins.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the sovereign is an impious wretch, a heretic; his destruction is laudable; heaven rejoices in his overthrow.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• commendable
• creditable
• praiseworthy