Impressive

adj.capable, joyfuleveryday

What it means

Strong enough in quality, skill, or scale to earn admiration.

Reach for it when praising an achievement or ability without claiming perfection

The trainees made impressive progress after only three rehearsals.

playful
stunning
informal enthusiasm for a powerful visual or result fits the context
not when Stunning is inflated for measured workplace evaluation.
everyday
excellent
quality is plainly high and direct praise is enough
not when Excellent does not convey the observer's sense of impact or scale.
warm
admirable
character or effort deserves approval on moral grounds
not when Admirable may describe a modest act that makes no strong impression.
professional
accomplished
a person's developed skill is the real subject
not when It praises mastery, not the particular result's impact on an audience.
professional
outstanding
performance clearly rises above its peers
not when It requires a comparison that impressive does not always make.
formal
formidable
ability, scale, or difficulty inspires respect and some awe
not when It can sound intimidating rather than warmly admiring.
formal
remarkable
the achievement is unusual enough to deserve notice
not when Remarkable may mean surprising without necessarily being admirable.
literary
striking
appearance or effect captures attention immediately
not when Striking can be disturbing, odd, or beautiful rather than accomplished.

impressive achievement
Restoring the theater on that budget was an impressive achievement.
impressive skills
Her impressive skills include explaining complex repairs to first-time learners.
particularly impressive
The quiet control in the final scene was particularly impressive.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.