honorable

adjective

hon·​or·​able ˈä-nə-rə-bəl How to pronounce honorable (audio)
ˈän-rə-,
ˈä-nər-
1
: deserving of respect or high regard : deserving of honor
an honorable profession
2
a
: of great renown : illustrious
the college's long and honorable history
b
: entitled to honor or respect
used as a title for the children of certain British noblemen and for various government officials
the Honorable Judge Smith
the Honorable Senator from California
3
: performed or accompanied with marks of honor or respect
4
a
: attesting to creditable conduct
honorable wounds
b
: consistent with a reputation that is not tarnished or sullied
an honorable withdrawal
received an honorable discharge from the army
5
: characterized by integrity : guided by a keen sense of duty and ethical conduct
Brutus is an honorable manWilliam Shakespeare
assured her that his intentions were honorable
honorability noun
honorableness
ˈä-nə-rə-bəl-nəs How to pronounce honorable (audio)
ˈän-rə-
ˈä-nər-
noun
honorably
ˈä-nə-rə-blē How to pronounce honorable (audio)
ˈän-rə-
ˈä-nər-
adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for honorable

upright, honest, just, conscientious, scrupulous, honorable mean having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right.

upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

Examples of honorable in a Sentence

The college has a long and honorable history. It is not honorable of you to behave like that. They are trying to find an honorable way out of this dispute. He assured her that his intentions were honorable. He received an honorable discharge from the army.
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.
Would Adams have preferred a deeply dishonorable man in the White House over an honorable woman? Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 Petty didn’t back down and MCA changed their plans, enshrining his reputation as an honorable guy who cared more about his fans than his own bottom line. Al Shipley, SPIN, 1 Nov. 2024 The atmosphere is boosted by some splendid acting: Fiennes lends a vulnerable and earnest demeanor to the honorable Lawrence, while Tucci’s complexity and Lithgow’s antagonism spark their respective rival cardinals. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024 Apparently, Astin — who played the honorable Mikey opposite Quan’s ingenious Data in Richard Donner’s beloved 1985 adventure film — has a flair for the dramatic off-camera, as well. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for honorable 

Word History

Etymology

see honor entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near honorable

Cite this Entry

“Honorable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honorable. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

honorable

adjective
hon·​or·​able ˈän-(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce honorable (audio)
ˈän-ər-bəl
1
: deserving of honor
2
used as a title especially for various government officials
3
: performed or accompanied with marks of honor
an honorable burial
4
: doing credit to the possessor
honorable wounds
5
: characterized by honesty : ethical
honorably adverb

Legal Definition

honorable

adjective
hon·​or·​able
: entitled to honor
used as a title for various government officials

More from Merriam-Webster on honorable

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