excessive praise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excessive praise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is praised too much, often to the point of being insincere or unmerited. Example: "While it's important to acknowledge achievements, excessive praise can lead to complacency among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Criticism and excessive praise stun him equally.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He called Dr. Church's approach, without excessive praise, "a positive addition to the field".

The New York Times - Health

Of course, it wasn't just this excessive praise that endeared him to me.

The Guardian - Film

Excessive praise is even worse when it is unwanted praise, or what specialists refer to as dissonant encomium.

The New York Times

The humblest of champions, he will continue to deflect what he considers excessive praise but it is unavoidable.

The Guardian - Sport

My attempts to string together a few broken phrases were met with excessive praise, and I assumed everyone was being nice.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

"My real problem is that chefs are used to extremely excessive literary praise," Mr. Simon said in an interview over a lunch in a restaurant where the appetizers averaged more than $40 apiece.

The New York Times - Food

They, too, find the need to shower excessive unwarranted praise on Israel, claiming that "a strong and secure Israel is vital to the United States because we share overarching strategic interests and the common values of democracy, equality, tolerance, and pluralism".

Huffington Post

At the risk of seeming excessive in praise of Costello, her one-person show is the best combination of genuine poignance and rollicking humor since the pioneering stage work of Lily Tomlin and early Whoopi Goldberg.

Huffington Post

He describes the people of Athens "in the assembly or law court or theatre" and "the boos and applause of their criticism or praise (excessive in both cases) of whatever is being said".

The Guardian

If the designers like Mr. Antonioni sound excessive in their praise, consider the challenges they face in an economy where research and development money has dried up, many design firms aren't hiring and attracting investors is a time-consuming, low-yield endeavor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be aware of cultural differences in expressing praise. What might be considered "excessive praise" in one culture could be normal in another.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive praise" to manipulate or avoid difficult conversations. Sincerity and constructive criticism are crucial for building trust and facilitating real improvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive praise" functions as a noun phrase, where "excessive" is an adjective modifying the noun "praise". Ludwig examples show it's often the object of verbs like 'deflect', 'receive', or used to describe an attribute.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessive praise" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe praise that goes beyond what is considered reasonable or appropriate. According to Ludwig, it's most frequently encountered in News & Media. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's essential to be mindful of the potential negative implications of over-praising, such as hindering growth or appearing insincere. Alternatives like "undue commendation" or "extravagant adulation" can offer nuanced ways to express the same concept. Remember to balance positive feedback with constructive criticism for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undue commendation

Replaces "praise" with a more formal synonym and "excessive" with "undue", indicating inappropriateness.

over-the-top accolades

Uses more informal and descriptive language to emphasize the exaggerated nature of the praise.

extravagant adulation

Substitutes "praise" with "adulation" to indicate a deeper level of admiration and "excessive" with "extravagant" to highlight the lavish quality.

inordinate flattery

Replaces "praise" with "flattery", suggesting insincerity, and "excessive" with "inordinate" for a formal tone.

unwarranted acclaim

Highlights that the praise is not justified or deserved.

fulsome praise

Uses "fulsome" to mean excessively flattering or complimentary.

exaggerated compliments

Focuses on the inflated nature of the praise given.

overblown commendation

Emphasizes that the praise is inflated and disproportionate.

immoderate approval

Indicates a lack of restraint or reason in the expression of approval.

lavish tributes

Implies the praise is expressed in a rich and elaborate manner.

FAQs

How can I use "excessive praise" in a sentence?

You can use "excessive praise" to describe situations where someone is being praised too much, such as, "The actor deflected what he considered "excessive praise" after his performance".

What are some synonyms for "excessive praise"?

Some synonyms for "excessive praise" include "undue commendation", "extravagant adulation", and "unwarranted acclaim".

Is it always bad to give "excessive praise"?

While acknowledging achievements is important, "excessive praise" can sometimes lead to complacency, insincerity, or a reluctance to address areas needing improvement. It's best to provide balanced and honest feedback.

What's the difference between "genuine appreciation" and "excessive praise"?

"Genuine appreciation" is sincere and specific, highlighting true accomplishments. "Excessive praise", on the other hand, can be exaggerated, insincere, or disproportionate to the achievement, potentially hindering growth or appearing manipulative.