Outstanding

adj.capable, resilientprofessional

What it means

Clearly distinguished by exceptionally strong quality or achievement.

Reach for it when giving high-confidence praise when the result stands above the expected standard

The rescue team delivered outstanding care throughout the twelve-hour evacuation.

playful
stellar
when energetic contemporary praise is welcome
not when Formal references and measured reports call for restrained praise.
everyday
first-rate
when direct informal praise should sound confident
not when The phrase can feel dated or promotional in academic writing.
warm
remarkable
when an achievement deserves notice or surprise
not when Something remarkable may be unusual without being excellent.
professional
excellent
when very high quality is the complete message
not when It does not explicitly compare the result with peers or expectations.
professional
exemplary
when the performance should serve as a model
not when Exemplary adds moral or instructional value beyond simple excellence.
formal
distinguished
when sustained achievement has earned recognition
not when The word fits careers and records better than one excellent small task.
formal
exceptional
when the quality is rare enough to be an exception
not when Reserve it for evidence stronger than ordinary good performance.
literary
superb
when concise, enthusiastic praise suits the tone
not when It can sound inflated in a restrained evaluation.

outstanding achievement
Restoring the wetland in one season was an outstanding achievement.
outstanding contribution
The award recognized her outstanding contribution to rural nursing.
outstanding work
The apprentices did outstanding work on the library's damaged windows.

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