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Achievement

n. capable, joyful everyday

What it means

A valued result reached through ability, courage, or sustained effort.

Reach for it when celebrating earned success, especially at a meaningful standard

Completing the night course while working full-time was a remarkable achievement.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
warm
professional
formal
literary

  • everyday

    accomplishment

    Fits when completed work deserves attention alongside the success

    Careful A rank or record can be an achievement without being a discrete accomplishment.

  • everyday

    success

    Fits when the outcome met its purpose and no stronger praise is needed

    Careful Success can be temporary or accidental, while achievement suggests something earned.

  • warm

    feat

    Fits when unusual difficulty makes the result especially impressive

    Careful Do not turn every solid achievement into a feat.

  • professional

    breakthrough

    Fits when a barrier has been crossed or a new solution discovered

    Careful Steady improvement may produce achievement without one decisive break.

  • professional

    milestone

    Fits when progress has crossed an important point on a longer journey

    Careful A milestone can be scheduled rather than earned through exceptional effort.

  • professional

    result

    Fits when the neutral outcome matters more than celebration

    Careful A result can be poor or accidental, so it does not itself convey achievement.

  • formal

    attainment

    Fits when a desired level, status, or qualification has been reached

    Careful Its abstract tone loses the human effort suited to a congratulatory card.

  • literary

    triumph

    Fits when the emotional story includes overcoming major resistance

    Careful Without struggle, triumph adds drama the result may not warrant.

Opposites 3

  • failure
  • defeat
  • loss

Common phrases 3

  • great achievement

    Protecting the wetland was a great achievement built from hundreds of small decisions.

  • academic achievement

    The award recognizes academic achievement alongside service to classmates.

  • personal achievement

    Returning to the stage felt like a personal achievement after her injury.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated