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.
Related Words
Relevance
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 honorable mention
Anybody qualifying for honorable mention won't come close either.
—
Zach Harper, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
And an honorable mention to the wettest game played, 2007 at Miami, where about 1 inch of rain fell, and winds gusted 20 mph.
—Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
In the art category, La Jolla Country Day 11th-grader Hope Wang focused her project, which received an honorable mention, on the ways in which words cannot express certain feelings.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
But despite all of her on-court achievements, Harmon has yet to earn anything more than an honorable mention on the Associated Press' All-American team.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for honorable mention
Zach Harper, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
And an honorable mention to the wettest game played, 2007 at Miami, where about 1 inch of rain fell, and winds gusted 20 mph.
—Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
In the art category, La Jolla Country Day 11th-grader Hope Wang focused her project, which received an honorable mention, on the ways in which words cannot express certain feelings.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
But despite all of her on-court achievements, Harmon has yet to earn anything more than an honorable mention on the Associated Press' All-American team.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for honorable mention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honorable mention
Noun
-
Amid the glut of fashion week front rows, awards season after-parties, and talk show appearances, the star of Heated Rivalry has established himself as a real player in the style game.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The award ceremony would be held on December 7, with the president himself slated to act as master of ceremonies.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The series pits chefs from around the nation — many with major accolades such as James Beard Awards and Michelin stars — in a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
-
But then the day that this film got to the peak of its accolades and recognition in the world was exactly the peak of the massacres happening in Iran.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This charming little dish is bound to get compliments from all your guests.—
Francesca Krempa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
If suspicions can run like that, a compliment surely can go very far.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Honorable mention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honorable%20mention. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
