ennoble

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ennoble" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of elevating someone’s status, character, or dignity, often in a moral or noble sense. Example: "The act of kindness he showed to the less fortunate served to ennoble his character in the eyes of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But suffering did not ennoble her: just the opposite, and in the end she did her utmost to humiliate her husband.

The Economist

He also dithered, fatally, on two separate occasions when many Blairites hoped he might launch a challenge to Gordon Brown, proving himself neither loyal, nor decisive enough to ennoble his disloyalty with daring.But he is a fiercely bright, an interesting thinker, a centrist, and he seemed to have a clear-eyed sense of where his party went wrong in its final years and months in office.

The Economist

He backed the development of the Phaeton, a luxury saloon, in an attempt to ennoble even the VW brand.

The Economist

But when a job cannot find enough takers, the market finds ways to ennoble it: first pay, and then status, begin to rise.

The Economist

Il Vangelo secondo Matteo (1964; The Gospel According to St. Matthew), by the Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, reveals how expressive periods of silence can be and how great music can ennoble scenes like those of Christ's persecution and agony on the cross.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We can only stand in amazement at the power of love to magnetise, to ennoble and to blow apart some of the strongest, cleverest and sanest people in history, leaving us to read about them and feel relieved that our lives and loves are, by contrast, thank God, so ordinary.

Independent

His heroes are the vehicles of psychological, societal, and cosmic forces that tend to ennoble and glorify humanity or infect it and destroy it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Culteranismo, the ornate, roundabout, high-flown style of which Luis de Góngora y Argote was archpriest, attempted to ennoble the language by re-Latinizing it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The aim of that first lesson, I later realized, was to ennoble the art of practicing.

The New Yorker

Americans created a "modern cult of violence," he says, out of a desire to ennoble the Civil War: by making its violence somehow epic and unprecedented, they would make the war of epic and unprecedented significance.

The New Yorker

He was, for all those perfect shining sentences, a realist; the sentences sing, but they don't ennoble.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ennoble" when you want to convey a sense of moral or social elevation. It's often used to describe how certain actions or qualities can make something more dignified or honorable.

Common error

Avoid using "ennoble" in contexts where you simply mean 'improve' or 'enhance'. "Ennoble" carries a specific connotation of adding nobility or moral worth, which may not be appropriate in all situations.

Linguistic Context

The verb "ennoble" functions to describe the act of making something noble, dignified, or honorable. It implies elevating the status or character of a person, object, or idea, often through positive qualities or actions. Ludwig indicates that the term is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "ennoble" is a versatile term used to describe the act of elevating something or someone to a more noble or dignified state. Grammatically sound and frequently used, as confirmed by Ludwig, it appears most often in news and media contexts. While it can imply improvement, it specifically connotes the addition of nobility or moral worth. Ludwig's analysis indicates that understanding the subtle connotation is key to its proper usage, ensuring that it aligns with the intended message of moral or social elevation. With an expert rating of 4.5, the usage of "ennoble" is well-regarded thanks to its proper grammatical form and a frequent use on authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dignify

Focuses on conferring dignity or honor.

elevate

Emphasizes raising something to a higher level, literally or figuratively.

honor

Highlights the act of bestowing respect and admiration.

exalt

Suggests lifting something up to a position of great esteem or praise.

ennobling

A gerund form of the word.

enhance

Implies improving the quality or value of something.

uplift

Conveys the idea of raising someone's spirits or moral character.

augment

Focuses on increasing the size or quantity of something.

improve

A general term for making something better.

grace

Emphasizes adding elegance or refinement.

FAQs

How can I use "ennoble" in a sentence?

You can use "ennoble" to describe actions or qualities that elevate something in status or dignity. For example: "His selfless actions served to ennoble his character."

What are some alternatives to using "ennoble"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "dignify", "elevate", or "honor".

Is it correct to say that suffering will always "ennoble" a person?

While some believe suffering can build character, it doesn't always "ennoble". Sometimes, suffering can have the opposite effect. The impact of suffering depends on individual circumstances and responses.

What's the difference between "ennoble" and "improve"?

"Ennoble" specifically implies elevating something to a higher moral or social status, whereas "improve" simply means to make something better. "Ennoble" carries a stronger connotation of adding nobility or dignity.