admiration

[ ad-muh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a feeling of wonder, pleasure, or approval.

   Synonyms: affection, regard, esteem, approval

   Antonyms: condemnation

2. the act of looking on or contemplating with pleasure:

   admiration of fine paintings.

3. an object of wonder, pleasure, or approval:

   The dancer was the admiration of everyone.

4. Archaic. wonder; astonishment.

admiration

/ ˌædməˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. pleasurable contemplation or surprise
2. a person or thing that is admired

   she was the admiration of the court

3. archaic.
   wonder

Other Words From

• ad·mi·ra·tive [ad-, mahy, -r, uh, -tiv, ad-m, uh, -, rey, -], adjective
• ad·mira·tive·ly adverb
• self-admi·ration noun
• super·admi·ration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of admiration¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English admiracion, from Latin admīrātiōn-, stem of admīrātiō; equivalent to admire + -ation

Idioms and Phrases

see mutual admiration society .

Example Sentences

Their initiative has won the admiration of local celebrities and politicians - and even caught the attention of some UK teenagers who flew to the capital, Accra, to join the clean-up.

From BBC

Mrs Trump wrote about her modelling career, her admiration for her husband and their past political disagreements, but chose to keep details of those disputes private.

From BBC

Was it an expression of deep desire for fascism, misogyny and racism or a simple admiration for the reality show ringmaster who tells them what they want to hear?

From Salon

“It's hard not to go overboard with admiration for a nonagenarian who remains so unaffected by her fame on the one hand,” wrote one, “and some of the awful things life has thrown at her on the other.”

From BBC

He has spoken of Putin’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 with something akin to admiration, calling it “smart.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adoration
• affection
• applause
• appreciation
• delight
• esteem
• fondness
• love
• pleasure
• praise
• recognition
• reverence
• wonder
• wonderment