commends; commended; commending
formal
1
: to praise (someone or something) in a serious and often public way
He commended her honesty.
His poetry is highly commended by other writers.
—often + forHe commended her for her honesty.
They should be commended for their bravery.
2
: to mention (someone or something) as deserving attention or approval : recommend
I commend this book to anyone interested in learning more about American history.
Their theory has much to commend it. [=there are many good things about it]
His ideas are not likely to commend themselves to most voters. [=most voters will not like and approve of his ideas]
Cite this Entry
“Commend.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/commend. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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