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Prestige

n. capable, joyful formal

What it means

High respect and social standing attached to recognized achievement, quality, or position.

Reach for it when naming public regard while separating status from actual merit

The prize brought prestige to a theater that had served the town for fifty years.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
playful
warm
professional
formal
literary

  • playful

    cachet

    Fits when fashionable appeal raises perceived status

    Careful Cachet can be superficial and is unsuitable for serious earned respect.

  • warm

    esteem

    Fits when sincere respect from others is the heart of the idea

    Careful Esteem can remain private and lacks prestige's social rank.

  • warm

    honor

    Fits when recognition carries moral respect

    Careful Honor may be conferred for one act and does not imply continuing prestige.

  • professional

    reputation

    Fits when accumulated public judgment is the relevant asset

    Careful A reputation can be bad, disputed, or based on familiarity.

  • professional

    status

    Fits when relative social or institutional position is central

    Careful Status can come from wealth or office without earned respect.

  • formal

    distinction

    Fits when excellence or an honor sets someone apart

    Careful Distinction can describe difference without broad social prestige.

  • formal

    standing

    Fits when a person or institution's reputation within a group matters

    Careful Standing may be neutral or poor and needs a qualifier.

  • literary

    renown

    Fits when widespread fame rests on achievement

    Careful Renown concerns being known, while prestige concerns esteem.

Opposites 4

  • disgrace
  • disrepute
  • obscurity
  • ignominy

Common phrases 4

  • international prestige

    The discovery gave the small institute international prestige.

  • gain prestige

    The program began to gain prestige after publishing its outcomes openly.

  • source of prestige

    The restored observatory became a source of prestige for the region.

  • prestige associated

    The prestige associated with the prize did not guarantee a suitable placement.

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