Enviable
What it means
So desirable or excellent that others are likely to admire it.
Reach for it when praising an advantage or achievement without encouraging resentment
The cooperative built an enviable record for retaining apprentices.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal |
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playful
the one to beat
Fits when informal competitive praise suits the field
Careful The phrase turns admiration into rivalry and is wrong for collaborative settings.
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everyday
Fits when good circumstances rather than earned excellence matter
Careful Fortunate credits luck and may understate sustained work.
-
everyday
Fits when achievement deserves broad approval
Careful Impressive can concern scale without being personally desirable.
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warm
Fits when respect rather than desire is the response
Careful Admirable praises merit without saying others want the same advantage.
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professional
Fits when something is worth wanting for practical reasons
Careful Something desirable may be ordinary rather than exceptionally achieved.
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formal
coveted
Fits when many people actively seek the position or prize
Careful Coveted emphasizes competition and can make praise sound possessive.
Opposites 3
- undesirable
- unenviable
- regrettable
Common phrases 3
-
enviable reputation
The workshop earned an enviable reputation for careful repairs.
-
enviable position
Stable funding placed the archive in an enviable position.
-
enviable record
The clinic has an enviable record of retaining rural staff.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Wodencafe, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated