commendation

noun

com·​men·​da·​tion ˌkä-mən-ˈdā-shən How to pronounce commendation (audio)
-ˌmen-
Synonyms of commendation
1
a
: an act of commending
b
: something (such as a formal citation) that commends
2
archaic : compliment

Synonyms of commendation

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Examples of commendation in a Sentence

Their hard work deserves commendation. The President issued a commendation praising the volunteers for their exceptional work during the relief effort.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The result was lines out the door, a local political commendation, and a business that converted attention into revenue in a way most post-villa deals never manage. — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Some soldiers distinguished themselves by helping to render emergency trauma response and first aid to civilians, earning individual service commendations, according to the Arkansas National Guard. — Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2026 The novel earned commendations from authors such as Salman Rushdie and Amitav Ghosh. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026 His contributions to Japanese cinema earned him the 2004 Kawakita Prize and a commendation from Japan’s Foreign Ministry in 2008. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for commendation

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of commendation was in the 14th century

Rhymes for commendation

See All Rhymes for commendation

Browse Nearby Words

commendam
commendation
commendator
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Cite this Entry

“Commendation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commendation. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

commendation

noun
com·​men·​da·​tion ˌkäm-ən-ˈdā-shən How to pronounce commendation (audio)
-ˌen-
1
: an act of commending
2
: something that commends
was awarded a commendation for bravery
commendatory
kə-ˈmen-də-ˌtōr-ē, 
-ˌtȯr-
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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