Synonyms for Admire

Updated 2026-10-12 · Synonyms List editorial team

Quick answer: To find another word for admire, consider terms that capture respect or appreciation. Admire means to regard with respect or warm approval. You might choose to esteem someone for their character or marvel at a skill. These variations help you express your feelings more precisely in conversation or writing.

Closest Synonyms for Admire

Esteem: Holds in high regard with deep respect. We all esteem the judge for her fairness.
Regard: View with respect or kindness. I regard him as a true friend.
Revere: Feel deep respect and admiration. Students revere their history teacher.
Worship: Intense admiration often bordering on idolatry. Fans worship the pop star.
Marvel at: Feel wonder at something impressive. They marvel at the mountain peak.
Appreciate: Recognize the value in something. She appreciates the gift of time.
Honor: Acknowledge with high respect. We honor his service daily.
Respect: Hold in esteem or show deference. I respect your opinion on this.
Look up to: Feel admiration and want to emulate. Kids look up to their heroes.
Hold dear: Value deeply and protect. She holds her family dear.

Formal Synonyms for Admire

Venerate: Treat with extreme respect in formal settings. We venerate the founding fathers.
Hold in high regard: View with significant respect and seriousness. Leaders must hold staff in high regard.
Commend: Praise openly for good qualities. We commend the teams effort.
Value: Consider important or worthy of investment. We value the clients trust.
Acknowledge: Recognize and accept the worth of something. We acknowledge the difficulty.
Exult in: Takes great pleasure in someone else's success, like exulting in a colleague's promotion.

Informal Synonyms for Admire

Dig: Show casual approval or liking. I dig how you style your hair.
Crush on: Feel romantic or strong infatuation. She totally crushes on that actor.
Think highly of: Have a good opinion about someone. I think highly of his honesty.
Be impressed by: Feel that something is cool or great. We were impressed by the magic show.
Woo: Try to win affection or admiration. He woos her with nice gifts.
Be a fan of: Like and support someone or something. She is a fan of that band.
Cherish: Love and care for deeply in a personal way. She cherishes her dog.
Have an eye for: This means noticing and appreciating quality or beauty, often in art or design.
Astonish: Feel struck by something so remarkable it stops you in your tracks.
Relish: Enjoy something so much that it brings you great pleasure.
Gaze at: Look at something with attention and admiration for a period of time.

Stronger and Weaker Words

Like: Much weaker than admire, indicates simple preference.
Awe: stronger
Admiration: weaker
Laud: stronger

Antonyms for Admire

dislike
despise
loathe
hate
contemn
scorn
mock
disdain
belittle
ignore

How to Pick the Right Synonym

Choosing the best synonym depends on the intensity of your feeling and the context of the sentence. If you feel a deep, almost holy respect, use words like revere or venerate. For casual situations, dig or look up to works better. Always check if the tone matches the relationship between the people involved to avoid sounding overly dramatic or too casual.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between admire and esteem?

Admire often involves feeling wonder or approval for someone s abilities, while esteem implies a deeper, more serious respect for their character or worth.

Can you use admire for objects?

Yes, you can admire objects like art or nature, though you often marvel at them instead if they are truly amazing or impressive in design.

Is admire a formal or informal word?

Admire is neutral and works in both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile choice for most situations involving positive feelings.

What is a better word than admire for a crush?

Crush on or be smitten are better informal choices when you mean a romantic attraction rather than just general respect or appreciation of someone.