paean

noun

ˈpē-ən How to pronounce paean (audio)
Definition of paeannext
as in tribute
a formal expression of praise his retirement party featured many paeans for his long years of service to the company

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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 paean Alas, all those paeans to freedom have played out better in song than in real life. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026 Daily tales of war and violence around the world made one want to clench one’s fists, grit one’s teeth, and to shout out in a paean of outraged hysteria. — Zehra Jumabhoy, Artforum, 25 June 2026 The film, ostensibly started as a promotional tool, ends up being a paean to pop as a site of projection. — Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026 Nazi parades set to electronic hype music; paeans to Third Reich governance. — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paean
  1. tribute
  2. commendation
  3. citation
  4. homage
Noun
  • It was immediately preceded Friday by the California premiere of composer and saxophonist Steven Banks’ to be free, a stirring, deeply felt tribute to Nina Simone that was co-commissioned by La Jolla Music Society.
    — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Those boos gave way to cheers when the Red Sox played a 90-second tribute video after the bottom of the first.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of tribute
Noun
  • The novel earned commendations from authors such as Salman Rushdie and Amitav Ghosh.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • His contributions to Japanese cinema earned him the 2004 Kawakita Prize and a commendation from Japan’s Foreign Ministry in 2008.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 July 2026
Definition of commendation
Noun
  • Officers issued the individual a citation, and he was released on site.
    — Zach Powell, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Dispute over rescue In two of the citations, Cal-OSHA accused the company of endangering an employee by allowing one of them to go into the backcountry during the rescue operation against a recommendation of local law enforcement.
    — Tribune News Service, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of citation
Noun
  • And certainly, an homage to the importance and brilliance of sea creatures.
    — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
  • OpenAI’s lookbook for their capsule collection is an apparent homage to tastemaking brands like Kith and Aimé Leon Dore, two labels that turned laidback knitwear and box cut T-shirts into trends that saturated menswear in the last few years.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of homage

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paean
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Cite this Entry

“Paean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paean. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paean

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paean

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