1
2
as in commendation
a formal recognition of an achievement or praiseworthy deed a police officer who has received several citations for his work with troubled youths in the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in quotation
a passage referred to, repeated, or offered as an example in your paper be sure to include citations to back up any points you make about the play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun citation differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of citation are encomium, eulogy, panegyric, and tribute. While all these words mean "a formal expression of praise," citation applies to the formal praise of a person offered in a military dispatch or in awarding an honorary degree.

earned a citation for bravery

When can encomium be used instead of citation?

The words encomium and citation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, encomium implies enthusiasm and warmth in praising a person or a thing.

received encomiums from literary critics

When might eulogy be a better fit than citation?

The meanings of eulogy and citation largely overlap; however, eulogy applies to a prepared speech or writing extolling the virtues and services of a person.

delivered the eulogy at the funeral service

When could panegyric be used to replace citation?

In some situations, the words panegyric and citation are roughly equivalent. However, panegyric suggests an elaborate often poetic compliment.

her lyrical memoir was a panegyric to her mentor

When is tribute a more appropriate choice than citation?

While the synonyms tribute and citation are close in meaning, tribute implies deeply felt praise conveyed either through words or through a significant act.

the concert was a musical tribute to the early jazz masters

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of citation The two sides went back and forth for several months through meetings, emails and court filings before Cal-OSHA issued its citations in late September. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025 The airline entered into a formal settlement with the department and the citation was deleted. Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025 Grokipedia, like Wikipedia, includes citations for its statements, but several users have pointed out claims with inaccurate citations. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 Oct. 2025 And the city issued just 24 third citations, which came with the maximum $999 fine. Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for citation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for citation
Noun
  • During his victory speech, Prabowo paid tribute to Suharto and thanked his ex-wife.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Before the game, Lambeau Field held a moment of silence to pay tribute to Kneeland's life.
    Anne Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • LaBare earned commendation from the Navy during his actions in the raid.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • In his role as an officer, Baker received multiple chief’s commendations, including one in 2011 for his role in flawlessly executing multiple critical tasks during a domestic shooting incident involving a man who allegedly shot and wounded his wife in their suburban townhouse neighborhood.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Mayer resurfaces throughout Lasky’s Memory—regarding her photographs or poems or a pithy quotation—while Lasky considers the memories of her own life.
    Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • After submitting their pre-loved luxury pieces on a special landing page on the Mytheresa site, customers get a quotation on their items, which are then authenticated by the Vestiaire Collective team before an instant Mytheresa store credit is issued to sellers in return.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On Monday, he was posthumously named a national hero of Indonesia – prompting protests from human rights groups and victims who decried the award as whitewashing a repressive regime that left hundreds of thousands dead, according to historians.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • While the film earned numerous accolades, including a Film Independent Spirit win and a Sundance Film Festival directing award, the experience of being both filmmaker’s and subject left him drained.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Matty was a hero in World War II, served in the Pacific theater with the medals of bravery to show for it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • He is allowed to hang on to his Falklands War campaign medal, according to The Guardian and The Telegraph.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • That’s based on data compiled by Cambridge Mobile Telematics, which provides driving information to auto insurers, and contextualized by Insurify, which has a website for comparing insurance quotes.
    Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Here, in photographs and words, are some of the memorable looks and quotes associated with this year’s performances, speeches and backstage chats.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • But beyond the wins, losses and accolades, there was the man who remained in his players’ lives, through good times and tough times.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The singer delivered a pulsating rendition of the record paired with slick choreography and a crew of dancers in a warehouse for the set that marks her latest accolade, being named Global Push Artist for November.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The move is one of the county’s most forceful acknowledgements that a lack of access to affordable, nutritious food is a systemic crisis.
    April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
  • That was one last flourish of self-laceration, and there is definitely a matching strain of masochism in Hopkins—not so much a relish of suffering as a rueful acknowledgment that earthly woe is our due.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Citation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/citation. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

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