Words That Mean Praise
English is unusually rich here, and the differences are about register and sincerity: to extol is public and elevated, to adulate is praise past the point of judgement, to venerate is closer to reverence than to compliment.
11 words
- Acclaimnoun
enthusiastic approval
- Adulateverb
flatter in an obsequious manner
- Complimentnoun
a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration
- Exaltverb
raise in rank, character, or status
- Extolverb
praise, glorify, or honor
- Kudosnoun
an expression of approval and commendation
- Laudverb
praise, glorify, or honor
- Plauditnoun
enthusiastic approval
- Plauditsnoun
enthusiastic approval
- Reverenoun
American silversmith remembered for his midnight ride (celebrated in a poem by Longfellow) to warn the colonists in Lexington and Concord that British troops were coming (1735-1818)
- Venerateverb
regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of
Study these against
A word’s meaning sharpens against its opposite. These sets are the ones worth holding beside praise.