Esteem
What it means
Deep, favorable respect for someone's character, worth, or ability.
Reach for it when naming durable respect rather than momentary approval
Her willingness to correct the record earned the esteem of former critics.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| formal |
|
| literary |
-
playful
high marks
Fits when approval can be expressed as an informal evaluation
Careful The phrase suggests a performance score rather than lasting personal respect.
-
everyday
Fits when recognizing worth, rights, or ability is central
Careful Respect can be basic or dutiful, while esteem is distinctly favorable and high.
-
warm
Fits when appreciative wonder at a quality is prominent
Careful Admiration can focus on talent or beauty without the moral regard of esteem.
-
warm
Fits when gratitude for contribution matters
Careful Appreciation may concern an act or object and need not include high regard.
-
formal
Fits when favorable opinion should sound measured
Careful Regard ranges from neutral consideration to affection and is less clearly positive.
-
literary
Fits when profound, almost sacred respect is justified
Careful Reverence places the person too far above ordinary human regard.
Opposites 4
- contempt
- disrespect
- scorn
- disdain
Common phrases 3
-
high esteem
Colleagues held the retiring nurse in high esteem.
-
earn esteem
Leaders earn esteem by making the difficult correction in public.
-
mutual esteem
Mutual esteem allowed the two scholars to disagree without caricature.
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