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
He was named an honorable mention for All-Big Ten and participated in the Senior Bowl and NFL scouting combine.
—
Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
The retailer chose two runner-up dishes and one honorable mention.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
One of those students is Sophia Kidwell, who won honorable mention for clarinet in 2025.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
He's also improved steadily in college, going from honorable mention all-Western Athletic Conference with San Jose State in 2023 to third-team all-SEC in 2024 and second-team all-SEC last year.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for honorable mention
Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
The retailer chose two runner-up dishes and one honorable mention.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
One of those students is Sophia Kidwell, who won honorable mention for clarinet in 2025.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
He's also improved steadily in college, going from honorable mention all-Western Athletic Conference with San Jose State in 2023 to third-team all-SEC in 2024 and second-team all-SEC last year.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for honorable mention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honorable mention
Noun
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An agriculture teacher at Harmony Middle School in Osceola County was named one of five finalists for Florida’s Teacher of the Year award, the Florida Department of Education announced Monday.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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The awards were handed out at a ceremony on Sunday, March 10 and bestowed by juries of industry executives, journalists, creators, and experts.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
Noun
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This accolade further emphasizes the booming super premium Irish whiskey sector, as The Donn surpassed renowned Scottish and Japanese competitors.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
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The accolade has become one of the Pavilion’s defining institutional recognitions for filmmakers and artists working within the global genre landscape, organizers note.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Noun
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And Grandmere also paid me a compliment that has stuck with me.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
3 May 2026
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My latest obsession is the Jasmine Damask Rose Candle from Flamingo Estate, which is a luxurious home must-have that keeps my space smelling wonderful and gets constant compliments from guests.—
Ali Faccenda,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Honorable mention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honorable%20mention. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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