estimable

[ es-tuh-muh-buhl ]

adjective

1. worthy of esteem; deserving respect or admiration:

   What an estimable young woman; a renowned neurosurgeon at 26.

   Synonyms: good, excellent, meritorious, laudable, admirable, respectable, reputable

   Antonyms: contemptible

2. capable of being estimated:

   The cost to society of drug addiction is hardly estimable.

estimable

/ ˈɛstɪməbəl /

adjective

1. worthy of respect; deserving of admiration

   my estimable companion

Derived Forms

• ˈestimably, adverb
• ˈestimableness, noun

Other Words From

• esti·ma·ble·ness noun
• esti·ma·bly adverb
• non·esti·ma·ble adjective
• non·esti·ma·ble·ness noun
• non·esti·ma·bly adverb
• un·esti·ma·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of estimable¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin aestimābilis, equivalent to aestim(āre) “to value, price, set the monetary value of” + -ābilis, an adjective suffix; esteem, -able

Example Sentences

Tucked somehow within his madhouse autumns as the estimable 11th-year Stanford football coach, Shaw got to observe in real time both Texas A&M 74, LSU 72, in seven overtimes, in 2018, and Illinois 20, Penn State 18, in nine overtimes, on Saturday.

From Washington Post

Who we are is enough without commodities and other people, but in-group admission and approval — and the sense of safety and belonging that comes with it — feels like the estimable thing we need to gain in order to self-actualize.

From Vox

Now the estimable Cook Report has moved the race from Lean Republican to a Toss-Up.

From The Daily Beast

To save himself, Nixon nominated the estimable Elliot Richardson to be his new attorney general.

From The Daily Beast

He was a most estimable person, but he never ignored an opportunity to talk with a new and interesting woman.

From Project Gutenberg

You must imagine this sound as something between a grunt and a groan, that the estimable lady gave vent to whenever put out.

From Project Gutenberg

As sons of Freedom you are now called upon to defend your most estimable blessings.

From Project Gutenberg

I am still a Loafer; Jim is a most estimable member of the gentlest society; and this is how it all came about.

From Project Gutenberg

And with this show of humility, which may not have been entirely sincere, this estimable lady took her departure.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• esteemed
• praiseworthy