estimable
Americanadjective
-
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
-
capable of being estimated.
The cost to society of drug addiction is hardly estimable.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- estimableness noun
- estimably adverb
- nonestimable adjective
- nonestimableness noun
- nonestimably adverb
- unestimable adjective
Etymology
Origin of estimable
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; see origin at esteem, -able
Explanation
Something or someone estimable is worthy of respect and admiration. Many U.S. presidents might be described as estimable, though it depends on who you ask. This is a word for people who deserve respect. A hardworking scholar who has written several books might be estimable. Things can be estimable, too. You might describe an impressive book, restaurant, or film as estimable. Estimable is related to esteem, which can be used to mean “regard highly.” Being estimable is the opposite of being disgraceful.
Vocabulary lists containing estimable
The Hobbit
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Grade 12, List 3
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Pride and Prejudice
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Because one, it’s in and of itself estimable.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
The book is ostensibly “authored” by McCartney even though it is an oral history that has been edited by Ted Widmer, an estimable historian and a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025
I was hoping Joe would feel some similarly competitive outrage toward the rolling trapezoid, deficient in Americana, ignorant of history, nothing like the estimable Hummer.
From Slate • Jun. 22, 2025
That’s an estimable goal, and while I’m unsure how any movie could foresee the future of cinema, I love the optimism of that statement.
From New York Times • Apr. 3, 2024
The old gentleman being still in a state of most estimable unconsciousness, the bridegroom cried out in his accustomed voice, “Now Aged P. you know; who giveth?”
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
