laudatory
adjective C2
Plain meaning
expressing praise
Exam-register meaning
In formal or high-level texts, it is used to describe expressing praise, often with a precise or specialised tone.
In context
naturalHis response sounded laudatory, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a laudatory assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a laudatory responselaudatory behavioura laudatory situation
Watch out
Do not use “very laudatory” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
laudatoryness (noun, where natural)laudatoryly (adverb, where natural)