Esteem — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /i-ˈstēm/ es·teem

Meaning & Definition of Esteem

Esteem (noun)

  1. the regard in which one is held; especially, high regard
  2. worth, value
  3. opinion, judgment

Esteem (verb)

  1. to set a high value on, regard highly and prize accordingly
  2. to view as, consider
  3. think, believe

Esteem (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling of great approval and liking

    "an athlete who is held in great esteem by her peers"

    similar: account, admiration, appreciation, estimation, favor, regard, respect
    related: appetite, fancy, fondness, like, love, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use, acclamation, adoration, adulation, approbation, deference, hero worship, homage, honor, idolatry, infatuation, lionization, praise, props (slang), reverence, veneration, worship, delight, enjoyment, amazement, awe, wonder, wonderment, enthusiasm, interest, passion, bias, prejudice, affection, attachment, devotion
    opposite: disfavor
    near: condemnation, disapproval, disdain, opprobrium, scorn, disappointment, discontent, disenchantment, disgruntlement, disillusionment, displeasure, indignation, unhappiness, aversion, contempt, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disregard, distaste, hate, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, abomination, antipathy, detestation, deprecation, dissatisfaction

Esteem (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to think of in a particular way

    "I had esteemed the whole affair to be a colossal waste of time"

    similar: account, call, consider, count, hold, look (on or upon), rate, reckon, regard, set down, view, take for
    related: believe, deem, feel, sense, think, conceive, fancy, imagine

  2. to think very highly or favorably of

    "although the works of the Impressionist painters are esteemed today, they met with scorn when they were introduced"

    similar: admire, appreciate, consider, regard, respect, set store by
    related: acclaim, accredit, applaud, approve, commend, compliment, credit, praise, delight (in), drink (in), enjoy, relish, revel (in), savor, dig, fancy, favor, groove (on), like, love, adore, adulate, canonize, deify, dote (on), hallow, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, worship, cherish, prize, treasure, value
    near: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, condemn, decry, deplore, disapprove, discount, discountenance, disdain, disfavor, dislike, dismiss, disregard, frown (on or upon), kiss off, scorn, vilify

  3. to have as an opinion

    "I should have esteemed it most unlikely that their marriage had any chance of success"

    similar: allow (chiefly Southern & Midland), believe, conceive, consider, deem, feel, figure, guess, hold, imagine, judge, reckon (chiefly dialect), suppose, think
    related: regard, view, accept, perceive, depend, rely, trust, assume, presume, presuppose, surmise, conclude, deduce, infer
    near: distrust, doubt, mistrust, question, suspect, disbelieve, discredit, reject

Related Entry: Self-esteem (noun)

Self-esteem is a different word from Esteem. The synonyms below are for self-esteem, not for esteem.

  1. a reasonable or justifiable sense of one's worth or importance

    "friends and family have tried to help the shy child develop some self-esteem"

    similar: ego, pride, pridefulness, self-regard, self-respect
    related: aplomb, assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-pride, self-trust, self-worth, dignity, face, honor, prestige
    near: discredit, disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, humiliation, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, shame, demureness, down-to-earthness, humbleness, humility, modesty, diffidence, meekness, shyness, timidity, timidness

  2. an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements

    "his towering self-esteem made praise from other people entirely unnecessary"

    similar: amour propre, bighead, complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egotism, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-assumption, self-conceit, self-congratulation, self-glory, self-importance, self-love, self-opinion, self-satisfaction, smugness, swelled head, swellheadedness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vainness, vanity
    related: assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence, self-righteousness, arrogance, disdainfulness, haughtiness, imperiousness, lordliness, self-assertion, snobbishness, superciliousness, superiority, hubris, overconfidence, presumption, pretense, pretension, pretentiousness, egoism, self-centeredness, selfishness, self-pride, self-respect
    opposite: humbleness, humility, modesty
    near: diffidence, self-doubt, self-disgust, self-hate, self-loathing, altruism, unselfishness, bashfulness, demureness, shyness, timidity, timidness, passiveness, passivity

  3. great faith in oneself or one's abilities

    "the kind of self-esteem that a struggling actor needs to keep going in the face of constant discouragement and rejection"

    similar: aplomb, assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-trust
    related: cockiness, complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egoism, egotism, hubris, overconfidence, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-applause, self-assumption, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-consequence, self-content, self-contentment, self-glorification, self-importance, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vanity, calmness, composure, coolness, equanimity, self-poise, self-possession, assumption, bumptiousness, haughtiness, hauteur, huffiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, peremptoriness, presumptuousness, pretentiousness, superciliousness, superiority, toploftiness
    opposite: diffidence, insecurity, self-distrust, self-doubt
    near: apprehension, doubt, misgiving

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Esteem

The most common words with a similar meaning to Esteem:

Chiefly Southern & Midland: allow
Chiefly dialect: reckon
account, admiration, appreciation, estimation, favor, regard, respect, call, consider, count, hold, look (on or upon), rate, set down, view, admire, appreciate, believe, conceive, deem, feel, figure, guess, imagine, judge, suppose, think, take for, set store by

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Esteem

Words with the opposite meaning of Esteem:

disfavor

Related Words for Esteem

appetite, fancy, fondness, like, love, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use, acclamation, adoration, adulation, approbation, deference, hero worship, homage, honor, idolatry, infatuation, lionization, praise, props, reverence, veneration, worship, delight, enjoyment, amazement

Near Antonyms of Esteem

condemnation, disapproval, disdain, opprobrium, scorn, disappointment, discontent, disenchantment, disgruntlement, disillusionment, displeasure, indignation, unhappiness, aversion, contempt, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disregard, distaste, hate, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, abomination, antipathy

Word Forms of Esteem

Inflections: esteemed, esteeming, esteems

Origin & Etymology of Esteem

Middle English estemen to estimate, from Anglo-French estimer, from Latin aestimare

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Esteem

self-esteem

Frequently Asked Questions about Esteem

What does "Esteem" mean?

"Esteem" means the regard in which one is held; especially, high regard. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the regard in which one is held; especially, high regard. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Esteem"?

Other words for "Esteem" include account, admiration, appreciation, estimation, favor, regard, respect and call. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Esteem" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Esteem"?

There are 112 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Esteem". Common alternatives include account, admiration, appreciation, estimation, favor, regard, respect, call, consider and count.

What is the opposite of "Esteem"?

Antonyms of "Esteem" include disfavor. Near antonyms include condemnation, disapproval, disdain and opprobrium.

How do you use "Esteem" in a sentence?

Examples of "Esteem" in a sentence: "an athlete who is held in great esteem by her peers"; "I had esteemed the whole affair to be a colossal waste of time"; "although the works of the Impressionist painters are esteemed today, they met with scorn when they were introduced".

Is "Esteem" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Esteem" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Esteem"?

"Esteem" is pronounced /i-ˈstēm/ and divided into syllables as es·teem.

What is the origin of the word "Esteem"?

"Esteem" comes from Middle English estemen to estimate, from Anglo-French estimer, from Latin aestimare. First known use: 14th century.