Complimentable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A trait or quality that merits positive recognition and admiration is often described as deserving of praise or acknowledgment
2. Able to be praised or recognized favorably for qualities or actions
3. Having characteristics that make one worthy of congratulations or positive remarks

Etymology: "Complimentable" is a plain formation: the noun "compliment" with the suffix "-able", meaning "capable of being complimented" or, in the sense the dictionary gives, worthy of praise. The suffix "-able" comes from Latin "-abilis" through French and attaches to many verbs and nouns in English, so the new word follows the familiar pattern of "washable" or "lovable." The more interesting twist is its relationship to "complementable," which is a doublet, a pair of words that share an origin but took different routes into English. "Compliment" and "complement" both descend from Latin "complementum," meaning "fulfilment" or "that which completes," yet "compliment" drifted toward courtesy and praise while "complement" kept the sense of completing or making whole. The two spellings were long confused, so "complimentable" sits close to a word that means something quite different.

Synonyms: praiseworthy, commendable, admirable, notable, worthy

Antonyms: blameworthy, disgraceful, unworthy, shameful