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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 His celebratory words marking its 250th anniversary included not only the traditional paeans to the Founders but also a dose of personal grievance, plus soaring praise for his own achievements. — Susan Page, USA Today, 5 July 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for paean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paean
  1. tribute
  2. commendation
  3. citation
  4. homage
Noun
  • But the love enduring at their center feels so profoundly misguided that even this extravagant tribute, arriving more than 150 years later, cannot entirely defend it.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • There’s a tribute to Kieślowski’s Dekalog at the end of this movie.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of tribute
Noun
  • The result was lines out the door, a local political commendation, and a business that converted attention into revenue in a way most post-villa deals never manage.
    — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Some soldiers distinguished themselves by helping to render emergency trauma response and first aid to civilians, earning individual service commendations, according to the Arkansas National Guard.
    — Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of commendation
Noun
  • Meanwhile, highly visible drug use, rising fentanyl deaths and a citation system that rarely connected people to treatment fueled public frustration and political pressure to reverse the course.
    — Karyn Sporer, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Rankings and traffic remain valuable metrics, but they should be complemented by indicators such as brand mentions, AI citations, referral quality and overall share of digital authority.
    — Jay Sen, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of citation
Noun
  • Clad in pink tiles, the second bathroom is an homage to the kitchen at Barragán’s Casa Pedregal.
    — Sean Santiago, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Prince William and Prince George both wore blue ties, not only a potential nod to Eton College’s school color but also a potential homage to Princess Diana’s blue coat from the same occasion more than 30 years ago.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of homage

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paean
paeans
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Cite this Entry

“Paean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paean. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paean

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paean

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