as in award
recognition given to someone who has done something extremely well but who has not won the top honor
They didn't win the science fair competition but were pleased to receive an honorable mention.
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Recent Examples of honorable mention
Punch was voted honorable mention All-Big 12.
—
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2026
Okorie earned all-ACC first-team honors and was an Associated Press all-American honorable mention.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026
Was the 2016 Big 12 Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and honorable mention All-America as a senior.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Eric is a seven-time APSE award winner; four of his stories received honorable mention recognition in the Best of American Sports Writing anthologies.
—Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for honorable mention
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2026
Okorie earned all-ACC first-team honors and was an Associated Press all-American honorable mention.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026
Was the 2016 Big 12 Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and honorable mention All-America as a senior.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Eric is a seven-time APSE award winner; four of his stories received honorable mention recognition in the Best of American Sports Writing anthologies.
—Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for honorable mention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honorable mention
Noun
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Since the 2018 reforms began requiring the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to report awards and settlements related to formal complaints, there have been eight payments made by House members' offices, totaling just over $400,000.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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At this year's LBI Awards, held at the Westside Cultural Arts Center on March 21, stylist Tamela LeMieux took home two awards.—
Nakell Williams,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Jokic secured his eligibility for the accolade by playing his 65th game on the last night of the regular season, narrowly meeting the NBA’s quota to appear on awards ballots.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
20 Apr. 2026
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The choice of San Diego as the awards location isn’t necessarily an indication that special accolades will be awarded to local restaurants this year.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As is becoming usual, particularly in blowouts where the Rapids have come out the victor, coach Matt Wells pointed out areas for improvement between slices of compliments.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
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Shop more of my favorite compliment-worthy spring shoes, below.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Honorable mention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honorable%20mention. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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