1
Core action
Praise or express approval of someone or something, especially for a worthy action or quality.
Example
The panel commended the team for publishing its data.
commend
/kəˈmend/ · kuh-MENDverb
Praise or express approval of someone or something, especially for a worthy action or quality.
Use commend to express this relationship precisely: praise or express approval of someone or something, especially for a worthy action or quality.
What commend Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
Reviewers commended the book's clarity and restraint.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
The report criticizes the delay but commends the eventual response.
Use commend Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The panel commended the team for publishing its data.
Reviewers commended the book's clarity and restraint.
The report criticizes the delay but commends the eventual response.
Precision Matters
Commend overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
commend
vs.Means praise or express approval of someone or something, especially for a worthy action or quality.
castigate
Means reprimand or criticize someone severely for wrongdoing or failure.
commend
vs.Means praise or express approval of someone or something, especially for a worthy action or quality.
condemn
Means express strong disapproval of something as wrong, harmful, or unacceptable; sometimes formally sentence someone to punishment.
commend
vs.Means praise or express approval of someone or something, especially for a worthy action or quality.
condone
Means accept, excuse, or allow behaviour that is considered wrong, often by failing to condemn or prevent it.
commend
vs.Means praise or express approval of someone or something, especially for a worthy action or quality.
venerate
Means regard or treat someone or something with profound respect, reverence, or devotion.
Test commend in Context
They formally praise the students for responsible conduct.
1
The judges chose to ___ the students for acknowledging and correcting their own error.