Ennoble
What it means
To give greater dignity, honor, or moral worth.
Reach for it when praising an act or account that raises how a person or cause is regarded
Her truthful testimony helped ennoble the overlooked rescue effort.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
|
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everyday
Fits when respect is shown through recognition
Careful Honor acknowledges worth rather than creating a more noble character.
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warm
Fits when moral encouragement or hope increases
Careful Uplift changes feeling and does not necessarily confer dignity.
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professional
Fits when status, quality, or tone is raised
Careful Elevate can refer only to rank or physical position, with no moral worth added.
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formal
Fits when respect and seriousness are added
Careful Dignify can lend status without improving moral worth.
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formal
lend nobility to
Fits when the effect should be unpacked explicitly
Careful The phrase is cumbersome and can romanticize ordinary hardship.
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literary
Fits when praise raises someone to very high esteem
Careful Exalt can become worshipful or uncritical.
Opposites 4
- debase
- degrade
- dishonor
- demean
Common phrases 3
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ennoble a cause
Transparent sacrifice can ennoble a cause without making it infallible.
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ennoble the spirit
The poem aims to ennoble the spirit through honest compassion.
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seek to ennoble
The memorial seeks to ennoble service rather than glorify war.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated