Words of Praise and Strong Dislike: Advanced Vocabulary
"I really like it" and "I really don't like it" are honest sentences — but they are also the vocabulary of a beginner. Advanced English gives you a whole scale of intensity: from a mild dislike all the way to loathing, and from a nod of approval all the way to a standing ovation. This lesson covers twelve such words, split into three useful groups.
These words sit at the extreme ends of approval: strong dislike (detest, abhor, loathe), strong praise (exalt, extol, eulogize, laud, felicitate, accolade, acclaim), and excessive, often insincere praise (adulation, sycophant). Knowing which group a word belongs to tells you most of its meaning immediately.
1. Words of Strong Dislike
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Detest | To dislike something intensely. | I detest any kind of cruelty to animals. |
| Abhor | To have a strong, deep-seated dislike for something. | Mahatma Gandhi abhorred all forms of violence. |
| Loathe | To hate or find utterly disgusting. | I loathe teachers who use physical punishment to discipline young pupils. |
2. Words of Praise
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Exalt | To elevate through praise; to glorify. | The essay exalts the simple beauty of village life. |
| Extol | To praise enthusiastically. | He extolled the virtues of a vegetarian diet. |
| Eulogize | To praise highly, especially someone who has died or achieved greatly. | He eulogized the great leader and wrote a poem in his honour. |
| Laud | To praise. | Amitabh Bachchan has millions of fans who laud his acting. |
| Felicitate | (a) To congratulate; (b) to consider fortunate. | The other pianists rushed to felicitate the winner of the competition. |
| Accolade | A mark of acknowledgment or praise. | He received the highest accolade of his profession. |
| Acclaim | (verb) To praise publicly; (noun) public praise. | Critics acclaimed her performance, and she deserves every bit of that acclaim. |
3. Words of Excessive or Insincere Praise
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adulation | Excessive, often insincere flattery. | Most of the billionaire's adulation comes from people who are simply after his money. |
| Sycophant | A person who flatters others excessively to gain favour; a "bootlicker." | Sneha is a shallow sycophant who will flatter anyone for a free designer handbag. |
Notice the difference between Group 2 and Group 3: lauding or extolling someone's real achievement is honest praise, while adulation from a sycophant is excessive praise given for selfish reasons, not because it is deserved. The direction (praise) is the same; the honesty behind it is not.
Most of these words also work in more ordinary sentences — you don't need a dramatic occasion to use them. "I detest waiting in long queues" and "The whole office lauded her for finishing the project early" are both completely natural.
✏️ Quick Practice — Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct word: detest, abhor, loathe, exalt, extol, eulogize, laud, felicitate, accolade, acclaim, adulation, sycophant.
- The whole city gathered to ___________ the cricket team after their historic win.
- He is such a ___________ that he agrees with whatever his boss says, right or wrong.
- Reviewers ___________ the film for its honest, understated performances.
- I ___________ dishonesty in any form, however small.
- At the retirement function, three colleagues rose to ___________ her decades of service.
- Winning the national award was the greatest ___________ of his career.
- The new coach continues to receive the team's ___________, and it isn't hard to see why.
- She could not ___________ the constant noise from the construction site next door.
Answers: 1. acclaim | 2. sycophant | 3. lauded | 4. abhor | 5. eulogize | 6. accolade | 7. adulation | 8. loathe / detest
Summary
Detest, abhor, and loathe all mean intense dislike, growing gradually stronger in that order. Exalt, extol, eulogize, laud, felicitate, accolade, and acclaim all express genuine praise or congratulation. Adulation and sycophant describe praise that has gone too far, usually for a selfish reason.
Key takeaway: Before you use a "praise" word, ask whether the admiration is genuine or self-serving — that single question tells you whether you want a Group 2 word or a Group 3 word.